As they join The Big Draw Festival for the fourth year, we are thrilled to steal a few precious moments with Rijksmuseum, The Museum of The Netherlands, ahead of their Big Draw Festival events 7 to 8 October for #LivingLines17.
Rijksmuseum’s free events will include drawing workshops, tours and a masterclass. The highlight of the festival is a workshop entitled Drawing in Motion, inspired by the dreamlike drawings of Matthijs Maris. To the live musical accompaniment of a cellist, museumgoers will have the opportunity to make drawings of professional dancers expressing emotion through movement.
The Rijksmuseum Library will also be getting involved by hosting a hand lettering workshop based on books of hours and manuscripts from the Johan Maelwael exhibition, and there will also be workshops for live model drawing.
We hope you enjoy our interview with this inspirational museum!
.gif)
BD: You’ve taken part in previous Big Draw Festivals on a fairly substantial scale! What are the main reasons for The Rijksmuseum taking part in The Big Draw Festival and what would you say were the main advantages to an institution for doing so?
R: When institutions take part in The Big Draw, they encourage their audience to create, to get inspired, to look at things differently. That is exactly what the Rijksmusuem wants to stimulate by participation in The Big Draw Festival.
BD: You have run a successful #hierteekenen campaign, which encourages people to come and draw in the galleries, how has this changed and impacted the visitor experience since this initiative was first introduced? What made you decide to implement this campaign?
R: During The Big Draw 2015, The Rijksmuseum launched its large-scale campaign #startdrawing, where everyone is invited to go into the museum’s galleries to draw and learn how to look more rewardingly at the beauty of art. The reason why the Rijksmuseum launched this campaign is because drawing helps to see more and to look more closely at art.
BD: Interestingly, the graphic you have used for your ‘Start Drawing’ campaign on the Rijksmuseum website is a crossed-out camera. Do you think the ubiquity in today’s world of the portable digital camera has changed people’s museum experience?
R: I cannot say if camera’s changed people’s museum experience but I can say that by means of drawing people experience beauty, magic and wonder. This is why the Rijksmuseum wants to help visitors discover and appreciate the beauty of art and history through drawing. And it is not about the end result but about enjoyment and deeper involvement.
BD: Do you think there is a relationship between viewing and drawing the artworks and do you think drawing can help to understand the art better?
R: There is certainly a relationship between viewing and drawing. When you get inspired by an artwork, you look at the details and get more understanding of the process of the artist. You see things in the artwork that you haven’t seen before.
BD: In one of the videos on your Teekentips page, illustrator Martin van der Linden explains how he believe a sensitive drawing is more important than obtaining a perfect likeness. What do you think the relationship is between “good” or “bad” drawing and expression?
R: We believe there is there is no distinction between a good or bad drawing. Drawing is a way to express yourself. It’s the process of drawing that counts, not the result.
BD: We agree, our mantra is: drawing to learn, not learning to draw!
Now, the final word is yours! Any advice you might have for potential Big Draw organisers, or other thoughts you have about The Big Draw Festival 2017 can go here!
R: Have fun!
Get involved with Rijksmuseum’s spectacular #LivingLines17 weekend > More information here
Rijksmuseum is a Big Draw Festival 2017 Sponsor-Partner.
The Big Draw's worldwide impact is made possible by the support of many organisations and individuals who share its vision. Without them and the commitment of hundreds of venues across the globe, our mission would be unachievable. Interested in becoming a festival Sponsor-Partner? Take a look here for some of the benefits.
Visit a Big Draw #LivingLines17 event near you this October:
Find events in the UK HERE or WORLDWIDE HERE. Or search by date HERE.
Read our tips on getting involved in our October #LivingLines17 Festival News here.
Click below to join our Big Draw Festival 2017 local events mailer, add your postcode with your e-mail, and we'll send you a weekly round up of all the events happening near you this October:
BECOME A BIG DRAW FESTIVAL ORGANISER!
We hope you enjoyed our interview with Rijksmuseum! If you have been inspired by their insights why not become a part of the world's largest drawing festival in 2017?
Anyone can organise an event, and you can register at any time! Click below to find out more about becoming a Big Draw Festival Organiser in 2017 for #LivingLines17: 