Guildford Borough's Big Draw 2018

This October, we are delighted to be hosting a programme of 10 free creative workshops for all the family as part of the national Big Draw Festival. Run in partnership with local arts practitioners and venues, workshops are designed to let people explore new and creative ideas.

Taking this year's national Big Draw theme 'Play' as a starting point, artists will be providing free, accessible, high quality and creative activities across the borough during October.

Workshops are designed to let participants explore new and a creative ideas and cater for those who love arts and crafts and for those who do not but are willing to give it a go!

Anyone can join in and participants can work individually or collectively as a group. There is no limit to how many free Big Draw activities people can take part in so why not come along and join in this year's festival, which is all about letting loose, embracing happy accidents, discovery, and most importantly having fun through drawing in all its forms!

What's on offer

Free, drop-in, creative workshops at different venues across the borough from 7 October to 28 October 2018 for all ages. Take a look at our programme of events for 2018 [2.37MB] or see our Events calendar for listings of the different events.
A workshop for people aged 18 and above at the Boileroom (13 Stoke Fields, Guildford GU1 4LS).
Two outdoor workshops:
- one at Newlands Corner (Drove Road, Guildford GU4 8SE)
- one at Lakeside Nature Reserve (Lakeside Road, Ash Vale, Aldershot GU12 5AA).

Feedback from our Big Draw events 2017

"Really enjoyed creating things with my granddaughter."

"Gives people a chance to try new things and release their imagination."

"Brilliant! Love the way everyone was included and involved."

"Nice to see it's for adults as well as children."

"Great fun! Love the opportunity to try something I've never done before."

"Great, more please!"

"Looking forward to the next one!"

Past participants, Guildford Borough's Big Draw 2017.

The event is celebrated in our borough every year and is part of the hugely successful initiative The Big Draw which has become the world's largest drawing festival.

How to sign up

To find out more, email us at: artsdevelopment@guildford.gov.uk or call 01483 444767. Let us know your name, email address and use the reference 'Big Draw Mailing'.

You can also pick up a copy of the Big Draw leaflet from Guildford Tourist Information Office, 155 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3AJ (open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm, from September 2018).

Watch our short video on the Big Draw 2017 in Guildford.

You can also see some inspiring Big Draw videos on the The Big Draw website.