Out and about

So what's this Big Draw all about? Well, it's in the title really. It involves drawing and it's pretty big. In fact it's so big it's going to get people all over the nation drawing, doodling and delineating (it's a word!).

In fact over 350,000 people, of all ages and painting abilities, will be making their way to 1,000 different venues for arty fun up and down the country - and you can catch up with the goings on in Cambridgeshire right here.

Running throughout October the Big Draw, which is organised by the Campaign for Drawing, sets out to prove that putting pen to paper can be as much a public display as a private passion.

It also proves that you don't have to be a pretentious artiste with your work hanging in the Serpentine to enjoy making pretty pictures! So check out this comprehensive list of where to go in Cambridgeshire to get drawing, or visit the Big Draw website to see what else is happening in the country.

Also, us crazy bunch here at BBC Cambridgeshire will be joining in the fun by creating our own self-portraits in honour of the Big Draw! Look out for them here, they promise to be... interesting...

If you fancy having a go email a self-portrait and a photo to cambridgeshire@bbc.co.uk

Polar pArtworks, Scott Polar Research Institute Museum

All ages. Sat 6 Oct. 11am - 4pm. Free.

Take inspiration from the Polar Regions with drop in artist-led workshops throughout the day.

pArtworks, Museums of the University of Cambridge (10 venues)

All ages. Sat 6 to Sun 28 October. Free.

Joined-up drawing in 10 different museums and collections with millions of ideas to inspire you. Move between the different venues and pick up a scoll to join in with Cambridge's biggest ever game of consequences.

The Big Draw, Fitzwilliam Museum

All ages. Sat 13 October. 11am - 1pm & 2 - 4pm. Free.

Drop In and Draw. Enjoy a day drawing in the museum and studio. An artist will be on hand to help and inspire. Materials provided.

The Lab of Senses, University Museum of Zoology

All ages.  Sat 13 Oct. 11am - 4pm. Free.

What does velvet sound like? Why are colours loud? Does a bubbly shape 'look' like sandpaper? Artist Dino Alfier will show you how to draw sounds and textures as well as what you see. Let your imagination travel across your senses and be inspired by the animals around you.

pArtworks, Kettle's Yard

All ages. Sat 20 October. 11am - 4pm. Free.

A full day of drop-in workshops for the whole family. Take inspiration from the house and gallery to contribute your creative ideas to our gigantic 'consequences' collage. Led by artist Alex Hirtzel. No need to book, admission is first come, first served.

Walk on the Wild Side, Space4 Gallery, Peterborough Museum

All ages. Sat 20 to 27 October. Free.

A week of artist led events in the great outdoors. Lots of nature themed activities for all the family that give everyone the opportunity to explore the parks and green spaces of south Peterborough. For booking, contact Lisa Helin at The Space4 Gallery on 01733 343119.

The Peterborough Big Draw, Space4 Gallery, Peterborough Museum

All ages. 20 - 28 October. 11am - 4pm. Free.

A week of outdoor drawing events in and around Peterborough's green spaces, lakes and parks.

Beasts and Birds, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

All ages. 20 & 23 - 27 October. 10.30am - 4.30pm. Free.

Come and be inspired by our fantastic beasts and birds. Artist workshops, draw with natural pigments, lunchtime talks and plenty more. See the Museum's website for specific dates and further details.

Self-portrait graffiti stencils, Whittlesey Youth and Community Centre

Teenagers. Mon 22 Oct, 1- 4pm. Free.

Join artist Kev Parker to create a stencil of your face and learn to use spray-paints as an artistic tool. Move over Banksy, there’s some new kids on the block! Note: Involves the use of solvent spray paints. Participants join at their own risk. Protection provided.
Suitable for 10-17 years. Places must be booked in advance.Funded by Local Network Fund.

Who Can I See?, Caverstede Early Years Centre

Families and children up to 8 years. Tues 23 Oct, 9 - 11.30am & 12.45 - 3.15pm. Usual admission charge.

During our half-term Family Drop-in sessions, families will have the chance to get creative with paper and paints to see who they can see in the Centre and garden.

Fruiture Art, Ely Museum

10 - 16 years olds. 23 Oct. 11am - 12.30pm & 2 - 4pm. £1.00 per child.

In the morning families can enjoy painting with fruit & vegetables. In the afternoon session we will be looking at food packaging and designing your own sustainable packaging for the future. This event is suitable for ages 10 -16 years. A prize will be awarded for the best design.

Angel You, Fenland Arts

Children. Thurs 25 Oct, 2 - 5pm. £2.

A hands-on mixed media art workshop with Bethe Bronson. Draw, colour, etch and create your very own slide, turn off the lights, project it huge, and poof... become an angel! Along with Bethe, you will photograph and make a print of 'angel you'!
Suitable for ages 6-11 years. Places must be booked in advance. Funded By Local Network Fund.

The Big Drawing Trail, Hinchingbrooke Country Park

All ages. Thur 25 Oct. 11am - 3pm. £1 per person.

Follow a self-led trail around the Park and enjoy set activities along the way, including drawing landscapes & creating collages. Contribute to large sized communal artwork & draw/paint individual pieces in the Countrysie Centre. Experiment with different media even if you have never drawn before! The event will go ahead in all weather. Please book in advance.

Exploring Space, Yaxley Amenity Centre

All ages. Fri 26 Oct. 6 - 8pm. Free.

Cartoonist Steve Mitchell will be exploring all sorts of space in this drop-in session for all the family. More info and downloadable leaflet at www.huntingdonshire/gov.uk/arts

The Big Draw. St Neots Museum

All ages. Sat 27 Oct, 10.30am - 4pm. Normal admission charge.

Have a go at drawing anything you see in the Museum, and display the result on our gallery wall. Materials provided. No booking needed - just drop in. Free event, but normal museum admission charges apply if you live outside St. Neots area.

Flaming Drawings, Cambridge Museum of Technology

All ages. Sat 27 & Sun 28 Oct. 11am - 5pm. Adults £5, concs families, students, seniors, (under 7s free).

Based on images of fire. Details to be announced, but there will be printing on polystyrene, using a Victorian press, with help from artists and printers - no previous experience needed.

Palaeo-pArtworks, Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences

All ages. Sat 27 October. 10.30am - 3.30pm. Free.

Focus on fossils and enjoy drawing in the museum with an artist to help and inspire you. Try some mixing and matching to play the pArtworks Consequences game.

Polar Huddle, Scott Polar Research Institute Museum

All ages. Sat 27 Oct. 11am - 4pm. Free.

Add your penguin to the Polar Huddle! With an artist here all day, and the Museum to inspire you, help us create a Polar landscape in the Scott Polar Research Institute Museum.

Halloween Family Monoprinting, White House Arts

All ages. 27 Oct. 10am-4pm. Free - voluntary contribution towards materials.

A fun and creative day, offering a chance to try new approaches to drawing, such as taking a line for a walk. You will experiment with simple line drawings of Halloween inspired objects and develop these into experimental painterly monoprints, using water- based ink. Val Armstrong is a well-known London-based tutor and artist.

Exploring Watercolours, Caverstede Early Years Centre

Nursery children and their parents/carers. Wed 31 Oct, 9am - noon & 1 - 4pm. No admission charge.

Christine Parker, Head of Centre, will work with the children in the Nursery, exploring watercolours. Parents and Carers will be invited to come along and join in too. For children attending Caverstede Early Years Centre.