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The Big Draw, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, and the National Trust come together to launch a global celebration of drawing, creativity, and community

Published September 2, 2025

  • Sunday 14th September 2025
  • East Riddlesden Hall, Bradford Road, Keighley BD20 5EL
  • Free | Drop-in creative activities: 11:30am-4:30pm 

The world’s biggest drawing festival is marking its 25th birthday in style – with a free, fun-filled festival launch in Keighley in Bradford District, sponsored by Ringtons. The Big Draw is delighted to be working with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and the National Trust to bring the day to life.

On Sunday 14th September, the historic grounds of East Riddlesden Hall will be transformed into a buzzing creative hub for the launch of The Big Draw Festival 2025: Drawn Together – a free, drop-in event open to all and packed with creative activities for families and people of all ages.

This flagship launch event marks the beginning of The Big Draw Festival, a month-long festival of drawing, with events taking place across the UK and around the world throughout October.

With the theme ‘Drawn Together’, this year’s Big Draw Festival celebrates the power of creativity to connect us across generations, borders, and backgrounds. The Keighley launch will embody this theme, with East Riddlesden Hall acting as the central hub for a weekend of activity spilling out into venues across the town as part of a wider Big Draw takeover!

The event is made possible by the generous support of Ringtons.

“For 25 years, The Big Draw has championed the simple but powerful idea that creativity belongs to everyone. We’re thrilled to be launching this special anniversary year in a place bursting with creativity and community spirit.

Our 2025 theme, Drawn Together, celebrates what The Big Draw has always stood for: using creativity to bring people closer, and making space for joy, connection, and self-expression. This launch is a call to join a global movement that invites everyone, of every age and ability, to make their mark!

We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors Ringtons for helping make this event possible, and of course to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and the National Trust for bringing this day to life with us.”
Matilda Barratt Director of The Big Draw
We're really excited to be launching The Big Draw Festival here in Bradford District, at a stunning National Trust property in Keighley.

At the centre of this year's UK City of Culture is creativity and Bradford communities, so the theme ‘Drawn Together' couldn't be more fitting. We look forward to encouraging more people to rediscover this activity of expression and celebrate the 25th birthday of The Big Draw."
Shanaz Gulzar Creative Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
“We’re delighted to welcome The Big Draw Festival 2025 to East Riddlesden Hall for this landmark 25th anniversary celebration.

Community is at the heart of everything we do at East Riddlesden Hall, ‘Drawn Together’ beautifully captures the spirit of the hall, and we’re proud to be part of a celebration that brings people of all ages and backgrounds together through the joy of making and sharing.

This special event reflects our commitment to creating welcoming spaces where people can come together, be inspired, and connect through creativity.”
Joanne Hudson General Manager for East Riddleston Hall

The Big Draw is excited to be collaborating with the National Trust for The Big Draw Festival 2025. This launch event in Bradford marks the beginning of a wider programme of creative activities happening at a range of National Trust sites across the UK throughout October.

From pencil to paper, chalk to charcoal, sketching to storytelling – The Big Draw Festival Launch: Drawn Together is a day for everyone. Come along, make some marks, and join a global movement that proves creativity belongs to us all.