THE UNIVERSITY of Cumbria has welcomed young artists to take part in the world’s biggest drawing festival.

The University is a sponsor partner in The Big Draw Festival 2020, which has been joined by organisations including Care UK, The National Archives and The Walt Disney Family Museum in America.

The Judges at the university’s Institute of the Arts have selected two winners, Jenny Gillon, who is in the sixth form at Keswick School, and Ellie Fox, a year 11 pupil at Richard Rose Morton Academy, Carlisle.

Both artists received a £100 Amazon e-voucher.

The Westmorland Gazette:

The Big Draw 2020 festival theme #ClimateOfChange invited artists to focus on the relationship between people and living environments and ecosystems, highlighting how we live today, and the ways humans may or may not live in harmony with nature.

The Westmorland Gazette:

Head judge Colette Conroy, director of the Institute of the Arts, University of Cumbria, said: “We are delighted to support The Big Draw Festival in 2020.

“This year is one that has turned life as we know it upside down and has brought how we interact with each other and the environment into sharp focus, along with the importance of the arts and culture to bring enrichment to our lives.

The Westmorland Gazette:

“All forms of the arts, including drawing, allow us to express ourselves confidently, in different and thought-provoking ways, often communicating in ways words are unable to fully express.

“Our thanks go to all those developing artists who entered the competition and who made our job of judging so tough, but it has been wonderful to see so many talents on display from young people across Cumbria.”

The Big Cumbria Draw 2020 gallery of artwork entries can be found on the university’s social media channels including Facebook, and at the festival’s website at https://thebigdraw.org/.

The Westmorland Gazette: