ON Saturday 19 October Harlow’s Big Draw family day took place organised by the Harlow Art Trust. Creative activities took place at the Gibberd Gallery & the Harvey Centre led by artists Nicola Burrell, Debbie Bent and Bristy Chowdury. The day was part of the international Big Draw Festival and also saw the opening of the Adopt A Sculpture Exhibitions.

The Trust were delighted by how many families came along and the enthusiasm everyone showed in taking part in the sculpture, clay and drawing workshops. They were also incredibly impressed by the work created by the schools.

The Adopt A Sculpture project saw schools to “adopt” a Harlow sculpture as a way of encouraging civic and personal pride in the town’s unique artworks. Schools selected artworks closest to them or that had a special connection to them. Eighteen schools across the town took part. The project was created to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Harlow becoming the UK’s only Sculpture Town.

Catherine Mummery, Access Harlow Sculpture Town Project Manager said “we have been bold over by the imagination and creativity shown by each school. The artwork on display is just a snapshot of the work that has been taking place in schools inspired by the sculptures they have “adopted”. A huge thank you goes to all the teachers and children involved. We are also grateful to the Harvey Centre, Harlow Libraries, Esquires Coffee, Nationwide Building Society & Samaritan’s Purse for displaying some of the schools’ work. It has been fantastic the way that so many people across the town have got behind this project and the Big Draw Day. Nicola, Bristy and Debbie loved working with the families on Saturday. The displays were only due to be up for a week but because there has been such a great response they are stay up now until 2 November in the Library and Gibberd Gallery.”

A fun art trail with arty prizes has been created and these can be collected at the Gibberd Gallery or Central Library.