WHETHER you last drew 50 minutes or 50 years ago, you could be part of Eden's big draw event this year.

The Big Draw is an annual event, organised nationally by the John Ruskin charity to encourage more people to discover the joy of art. And to help local communities take part Diane Steadman and Alex Jakob-Whitworth are offering to organise workshops and apply for grants for small groups to get involved.

The Eden Project aims to encourage as many people as possible to keep a "visual diary" for two weeks in October and all the organising, grant applying and paper work will all be done for you.

Diane and Alex set up A Dab Hand to assist teachers in their delivery of art and provide educational and enjoyable workshops. Now A Dab Hand is aiming to help communities in Eden get pleasure and a local, rural archive from The Big Draw.

Alex said: "We would like to help people be part of a simple yet ambitious campaign to get Eden's communities drawing during October. John Ruskin's charity launched The Big Draw five years ago and, since then, it has brought together thousands of people at hundreds of diverse events.

"We are asking Primary Schools to act as catalysts and meeting points for all generations to come together in our project that is designed to inspire and empower people to draw.

"We can all draw - even if we think we can't - and we can all discover and re-discover the pleasure of drawing. We recognise that many adults are scared of drawing and our flexible and fun workshops are for them as well as the more adept. There will be workshops for children and twilight sessions for adults - although it is not essential that you come to the workshops to be part of The Big Draw.

"We can apply for funding to buy the sketch books which people can take away and make drawings, prints, any mark in that captures their events, thoughts or memories of the two weeks. You could stick leaves or marks that mean something to you. The aims of the project is to encourage people to make their mark."

To enable A Dab Hand to apply for funding, groups and individuals are invited to register their interest in taking part in Eden's Big Draw event as soon as possible. Every primary school in Eden has been contacted, and invited to be a meeting point for The Big Draw.

More details about The Big Draw can be found at www.drawingpower.org.uk and you can register your interest with A Dab Hand at alex@ wquine-awareness.co.uk, diane@adabhand2004.fsnet.co.uk or telephone 01768 88761 or 01768-62664 or contact your local primary school.