The MEGA Drawing Box
Taking place in October 2023, the MEGA Drawing Box was an explosion of creativity and delight that welcomed nearly 1000 people into an unused department store in Keighley to make, dance and draw.
Where did it all begin?
The original Drawing Box Project was founded in 2020 by artists and studio holders Naseem Darbey and Gemma Hobbs in their work for Keighley Creative, funded through an Arts Council England Emergency Grant that supported charities through the Covid 19 crisis. Around 500 individuals and families in and around Keighley were given the materials and the opportunity to get creative in their own homes, with new activities
released each week through digital platforms, and non-digital approaches including worksheets and participatory performances taking place ‘live from the gallery window’.
The project was a success, and recognition from local providers like Bradford Museums and Galleries lead to Naseem and Gemma winning the Marsh/Engage Award for Excellence in Visual Arts Engagement for their work at Keighley Creative. The first ever duo to win the award, this collaborative approach is something that the charity has taken forward in all that it does, regularly working with artists and organisations to build the best community-focussed offer for Keighley.
