Drawing is a vital tool for education, more so now than ever
2020 was a year of seismic events impacting on world economies, technology, health, culture, politics and, undoubtedly, education.
School closures and the impact on education revealed the realities of home schooling, the reliance a country’s workforce places on an education system, and the disparity across countries and around the world in access to resources, digital networks and technical devices. Looking at education over the last year, the impact on this societal human construct has been significant, the fragility and inequalities of many systems and processes laid bare for all to see, resulting in many calling for change.
Over the past year, with so many of us living in a physically distanced world, this has not only impacted on our external, physical world, but also, perhaps to an even greater extent, on the collective human psyche. Lockdown has offered many people time for introspection and positive reflection. This time has allowed people to reconnect with long forgotten creative pursuits, or to discover new ones. Creativity in so many different forms – drawing, painting, printing, knitting, sewing, making, crafting - has emerged as a truly universal tool that can build bridges, communicate across oceans and make dreams a reality.
Running since 2000, The Big Draw Festival is the world’s biggest drawing festival and an annual celebration of the power of drawing, with hundreds of schools from all over the world taking part. For many students, drawing is a means of understanding the world, how it looks, and how it works. There is ever-increasing evidence to suggest that drawing is the single most powerful tool for learning and retaining new ideas.
Part of the core activity at The Big Draw is to actively argue the case for creativity in schools and in the workplace. With our ongoing work in visual literacy and creativity, The Big Draw is only too aware of the devastating impact the EBacc (UK) has had on the uptake on creative subjects at schools. Within the UK, we support the Bacc for The Future campaign and continue to work with our ambassadors and patrons to lobby in parliament to make the case for creativity.
Drawing is a transferable skill which can be integrated into the entire curriculum, and we at The Big Draw believe everyone can draw and everyone should have access to the benefits of drawing. It is a vital tool in many professions: from mathematicians, to surgeons, architects to engineers, therapists, political commentators to graphic designers. The humble pencil has built many a pioneer within every profession you can imagine.
And so, we can reveal that our festival theme for this year is a creative call for action, building on last year’s theme which focused on the environmental crisis. We expand this theme for 2021 to one of activism and sustainable living, and invite you all to act as champions to help ‘Make the Change’.
From Engage issue 22.
BY KATE MASON, DIRECTOR OF THE BIG DRAW • May 28, 2021
The 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Competition Online Awards Ceremony took place on 30 September 2026 and was attended by over 70 participants, including young people, teachers, the Competition Judges and UNESCO Commission representatives. The ethos of the Competition was ‘ to recognise, value and celebrate the efforts of all young people who entered the Competition, and their contribution towards helping UNESCO realise many of its key objectives, especially with regard to sustainability and climate challenges’. 2026 is the second year that UNESCO UK has undertaken the Seeds of Hope for a Better Future Competition. The Competition featured 50 projects, involving 13 countries across six continents, and representing 67 educational institutions from all sectors (early years, primary, secondary and tertiary). Significantly, this was more than double the participation in the 2025 Competition, with thousands of young people taking part in, or being impacted . Eight winners from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Slovenia received Gold Certificates and shared the £5000 prize pot. Seven Kenyan Teacher Training College projects were also collectively recognised for projects that strongly support the sustainability and climate change objectives of UNESCO through ongoing work of local, regional, national and international importance, and received the 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Legacy Award .
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide. https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.
