'Big Draw' activities at University this school Half Term! – University of Reading
20 October 2003FREE activities for children and adults are planned for the annual national Big Draw event at the University Museums from Saturday 25th to Tuesday 28th October 2003 • Sign up for free activities at the popular Museum of English Rural Life and the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology • Work with professional artists to bring out your hidden talents • Find out how to decorate Greek pottery inspired by the world-famous Ure collection of Greek pottery • Create a giant interactive display of wheel drawings based on the Museum of English Rural Life's real-life wheels • Take away your own Greek pot fragment or magic rotating wheel The national 'Big Draw' kicks off this October in Reading with exciting events for all the family at the University's Museum of English Rural Life, and Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology. 'The Big Draw' Community Arts Project brings together artists, children and adults to draw, inspired by rare and interesting objects from history! The annual October Big Draw www.thebigdraw.org.uk is part of the Drawing Campaign, which brings together thousands of people at hundreds of venues across the UK. Here they can discover that drawing aids observation, communication and creativity and, above all, gives pleasure. Kate Arnold-Forster, head of University Museums and Collections Services at the University comments: 'We are thrilled to be a part of the national Big Draw events this October half term, at the Reading University Museums. The events will allow everyone a chance to try their hand at helping exploring our wonderful collections through these projects. Those who come along will help create what we hope will be exciting new works of art for visitors to enjoy at the Museum of English Rural Life and the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology. ' On Saturday 25th October at 10 - 12.30 and 1- 4pm at the Museum of English Rural Life, artist Miranda Creswell will run free drop-in family drawing and craft activities where adults and children can help create a giant interactive display of wheel drawings, and make their own magic rotating wheel to take home. On Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th October at 10.30-12.30 and 2-4pm in the Ure Museum of Ancient Archaeology, artist Francesca Shakespeare will offer free art activity sessions, where everyone can help create an exciting new plaster frieze for the Museum, inspired by ancient Greek techniques, and take away their own terracotta pot fragment. Booking is required for the Ure Museum activities. Miranda Carnegie and Francesca Shakespeare have worked on a number of exciting community arts projects,and are both professional artists, who regularly exhibit their work around the country. 'The Big Draw' Community Arts project at the University's Museum of English Rural Life and Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology runs from Saturday 25th to Tuesday 28th October 2003. For further information or to arrange interviews with the artists involved, please contact Kate Arnold-Forster at Reading University on 0118 378 8671 or 8660, e-mail Kate Arnold-Forster