About

Image Credit: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Explore the importance of drawing in this special season, inspired by the exhibition The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea at the Queen's House. Running from March – June 2023.  ‘Drawn Together' offers an inclusive and dynamic celebration and investigation of drawing across all of the special sites.

Come and listen to talks given by internationally acclaimed artists, take part in late night drawing sessions inspired by Royal Museums Greenwich's collections and let the imaginations of budding creatives run wild in our family-friendly art workshops.

Explore the full programme of events below. Expect creativity, well-being, culture and lots of artistic inspiration.  

The Girl Friday Breakfast Club (10th March)
Time: 10:30am - 11:30am
Venue: National Maritime Museum | Pay what you can
The Girl Friday Breakfast Club is a friendly and informal space for women to meet, chat, and support each other. There is no agenda other than hearing from an interesting woman speaker, eating breakfast and drinking great coffee or tea together.  

This special Girl Friday Breakfast Club event  will be held in association with Royal Museums Greenwich's Drawing Season and Women’s History Month. All women, and those who identify as women, are very welcome to join the Girl Friday Breakfast Club for a cuppa and a croissant with our guest speaker Mary Evans. An acclaimed artist, Mary is known for her socially focused and site specific paper cut-outs.

Circumnavigation – Drawing Symposium (11th March)
Time: 10:30am - 5:00pm
Venue: National Maritime Museum | Free  
The ‘Drawn Together’ season will be launched with our free, inclusive symposium, 'Circumnavigation'.

Featuring discussions from artists and experts, alongside workshops, active drawing sessions and drawing performances, the event is a celebration of drawing in all its many forms. 'Circumnavigation' has been curated by artists Tania Kovats, Anita Taylor and Chloe Briggs.

Saturday Art Club Takeover (18th March)
Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm
Venue: National Maritime Museum | Free  
Join in for a fun and experimental drawing workshop planned and delivered by the 20 young people from our Saturday Art Club.

The group of young creatives will be taking over the Great Map to help you discover what drawing means to you! Everyone is welcome. 

Sound and Vision (23rd March, 20th April and 25th May)
Time: 7:00pm 
Venue: Queen's HouseSee the Queen's House like never before as you sketch and creatively respond to the displays, accompanied by live music.
Throughout the season draw along to buoyant fanfares, Baroque classics and contemporary Dutch ambient electronica. 

Drawing Mars (26th March)
Time: 10:30am
Venue: Peter Harrison Planetarium at the Royal Observatory 
Go on a journey to Mars where Royal Museums Greenwich will make you explore different features and environments on the planet. But don’t forget your sketchbook! They have been a constant in explorers' kits for hundreds of years. In this unique experience, you will be invited to sketch your impressions of the Red Planet with guidance from our expert team of artists and astronomers.

Family Fun Weekend: Scrimshaw Making (1st April and 2nd April)
Time: 11:00am - 1:30pm and 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Venue: Cutty Sark | Free with admission to the ship 
Drawing isn't always done with pencil and paper! Discover how people in the past etched on whale tooth and other ivory and bone items – a type of craftwork known as scrimshaw.
Join Royal Musuems Greenwich as they use similar scrimshaw techniques on alternative animal friendly materials. 

Ways into Drawing – Easter Holiday Workshops (1st - 16th April)
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Venue: National Maritime Museum | FREE workshop
This Easter Royal Museums Greenwich is playing with mark-making and materials to turn drawing on its head! Come and get stuck in this spring. 
* These FREE, drop in sessions are suitable for all ages and abilities (more information to come).

Drawing the Moon (23rd April)
Time: 10:30am - 11:00am
Venue: Peter Harrison Planetarium at the Royal Observatory 
Grab your sketchbook and pencils as you go exploring the Moon. Join artists and astronomers as they take you on a journey to the nearest companion in space. 

Delve Deeper into Drawing (25th April)
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Venue: The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre 
Drawings are a window into the artist's process. However, due to the nature of paper, drawings are inherently delicate and susceptible to wear and ageing.
Come behind the scenes to see some of Royal Museums Greenwich rare displayed drawings and learn how these important works are taken care of.

Drawing Breath: Teacher CPD Meditation and Wellbeing Workshop (11th May)
Time: 4:30pm
Venue: Queen's House | FREE Wellbeing Workshop
Come and draw breath at this very special session led by artist Tania Kovats and educator Jane Sassienie for teachers and learning professionals.
Discover drawing as a mediative tool for well-being for yourself and your learners. 

Behind the Scenes Tours: Drawings Special (11th and 25th May)
Time: 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Venue: The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre 
The best way to access Royal Museums Greenwich collection and see conservation in action is through one of these behind the scenes tours.
On this personal and exclusive experience, you will explore the drawings within the collection held at our state-of-the-art storage facility. See how the conservators clean and care these fragile works on paper, from maps and plans to sketchbooks and even globes. 

Lunar Sketch Along (24th May)
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue: Online event | Pay what you can 
Explore the use and significance of drawing within astronomy through a unique, live online ‘sketch along’ session with astronomer and astrophotographer Mary McIntyre and the team of astronomers and curators from the Royal Observatory. 
* More information to come

Families Drawn Together (3rd June)
Venue: Queen's House | Free Drop-in session
This half term, discover the collaborative process between father and son that defines the Van de Velde's work. Inspired by their approach, adults and children are invited to work together to create their family piece of artwork! 
* Suitable for all ages and abilities.

World Oceans Day: Drawing Inspiration from our Oceans (10th June)
Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Venue: National Maritime Museum | FREE
Artist and author Tania Kovats will be combining her passion for the ocean and the act of drawing as she co-curates a series of special events to celebrate World Oceans Day.

SENsory Social Club: Drawing with Light (March to June | Every Friday)
Online session: 11:00am - 12 noon or Onsite session: 1:00 - 2:00pm
Venue: Online and at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre | FREE
The SENsory Social Club will be investigating drawing as a form of expression and communication whilst developing motor skills.
These sessions have been designed for adults with special educational needs or disabilities to experience a different drawing adventure each week. The workshops are inspired by the vast collection at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre.