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September news

Art on a BIG scale

Residents are invited to join a day of free activity as part of the national BIG DRAW on Saturday 11 October. Organised by Portsmouth City Council, the event will take place at the John Pounds Centre from 11am until 3pm.

Visitors will be able to take part in experimental art activities run by professional artists. No particular drawing skills are needed, just enthusiasm and a desire to explore the issues of healthier lifestyles and greener ways of travelling.

The largest BIG DRAW drawing in the south will be created by using the city as a canvas. Five groups of residents, members of Portsmouth’s cycle forum and council staff will cycle planned routes around the city carrying tracking devices. Data will be transformed into a large digital drawing of cycle routes and will be screened at the cafe.

Other activities include:

creating an enormous floor drawing which visitors will be able to see develop from the viewing gallery above
drawing on the glass wall to create portraits of family and friends walking, cycling and having fun
using pedal power to make smoothies in the Centre’s café

Hazel Hine, Portsmouth City Council’s Corporate Initiatives Manager, said: “This is a great opportunity for residents to join in with a national art event while thinking about healthier lifestyles and using greener ways of travelling.”

Cllr Steven Wylie, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “I’m really looking forward to the event and hope that it is a great success. I’m a trained artist and I think that the BIG DRAW is a fantastic way of getting people involved with art and doing something new.

“I’m delighted that we are able to use the John Pounds Centre as a venue – it’s based within a lively community and has many exciting works of art in and around it. We all need to think about sustainable ways of travelling around the city and I hope the event promotes this message.

“I really encourage residents to come along and have a fun day out.”

The event will take place from 11am till 3pm at the John Pounds Centre, Queen Street, Portsea. The café offers a range of healthy drinks and snacks.

Large groups and cyclists should book a place in advance by calling 023 9283 4670 or by emailing housing.corp.initiatives@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Date : 30 September 2008