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The Big Draw 2016

Help us to create 400 faces of Shakespeare!

Adam Sherratt
How to Draw Shakespeare - Brita Granstrom
From 'How to Draw Shakespeare' - Brita Granström

Children’s author-illustrators Mick Manning and Brita Granström are joining us for The Big Draw 2016 as we aim to create 400 faces of Shakespeare, one for every year of the Shakespeare anniversary.

We're inviting all our visitors and online community to contribute to an exhibition featuring 400 faces of Shakespeare. Our aim is to create 400 Shakespeare portraits (digital and paper) which will be displayed in a new community exhibition at Shakespeare's New Place, from 22 October.

Having worked with Mick and Brita on our bestselling children’s book William Shakespeare: Scenes from the Life of the World’s Greatest Writer and our fantastic new family trails, we're delighted the award-winning author-illustrator team were able to help launch the 400 faces of Shakespeare campaign.

Under the umbrella of this year’s Big Draw Festival – the national campaign to promote drawing - on Friday 30 September Mick and Brita will be running a Shakespeare drawing workshop at Mary Arden’s Farm for pupils from Wilmcote Primary School, before giving a talk to visiting art college students at the Shakespeare Centre.

Then on Saturday 1 October, the artists will join us for our Big Draw event at Shakespeare’s Birthplace (in the garden, weather permitting), drawing for visitors and encouraging everyone to have a go at creating their own Shakespeare portrait. 


To have your masterpiece included in our exhibition, simply share a photo of your Shakespeare portrait on social media using the hashtag #400facesofShakespeare.

Need a few tips to help you brush up your skills? Take a look at Brita’s handy guide on ‘How to Draw William Shakespeare

We can't wait to see your creations!

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