Down to a fine art – local students join Knebworth care home for the world’s largest drawing festiva

Home news

Nov 04, 2019

Residents at a care home in Knebworth picked up their pencils and welcomed Knebworth School for The Big Draw Festival 2019.

Care UK’s Knebworth, on London Road, joined in the celebrations by partnering with local pupils to create works of art around this year’s theme, ‘drawn to life’.

The residents and team also took part in a painting workshop, led by Marilyn Comparetto from Art @ MG, Mardleybury Gallery. Children and residents painted poppies to be added to a collaborative piece of artwork, which was centred around the Second World War.

Launched in 2000 as part of the ‘Campaign for Drawing’, The Big Draw promotes drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention, and has encouraged over four million people to get arty since its inception. This year’s theme celebrates the benefits of creative activities, especially drawing, on health and wellbeing. 2019 also marks the bicentenary of John Ruskin’s birth, founder of the Guild of St George, the charitable education trust behind the initiative.

Vera Moreira-Henocq, home manager at Knebworth, said: “Here at Knebworth we firmly believe that activity-based care is essential in supporting residents to lead fulfilling lives, so The Big Draw is a fantastic initiative for us to get involved with.

“Drawing is an accessible activity that people of all ages can enjoy together, so we were delighted to welcome pupils from Knebworth School to join us for the occasion. Art, combined with intergenerational relationships, has proven benefits for older people, by offering the chance to tap into happy memories and an alternative way to communicate emotions and thoughts.

“Everyone had a wonderful day, and we can’t wait to display our masterpieces in the home!”

Knebworth has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, as well as short-term respite.

Recognising the importance of artistic activities, Care UK was happy to become one of the lead sponsors for The Big Draw this year alongside organisations such as The Courtauld Institute of Art and the City of Toronto Museum. You can read more about Care UK’s national involvement here: https://thebigdraw.org/drawn-to-life-care-uk

For more information about the event, please call customer relations manager Paula Brown on 07970 968893, or email paula.brown@careuk.com

For more general information about Knebworth, please visit careuk.com/knebworth

To find out more about the Big Draw festival, please go to thebigdraw.org