Drawing is one of the oldest forms of human communication in the world. Artists in virtually every culture practice some form of mark making, and accomplished draftsmanship has been prized and admired the world over. Many creators in the Western tradition have even considered drawing to be the foundation of all other forms of visual expression.

In order to celebrate the unique achievements of artists working in this most primary of media, a group of leading Vancouver-area art galleries and curators are joing forces this summer to launch Drawn, Canada's first city-wide festival of drawing. For a three week period in July and August, residents and visitors will be invited to explore the exciting and diverse world of contemporary drawing through a series of stimulating exhibitions, thought provoking lectures, artist talks, gallery tours, a symposium and more.

At the heart of Drawn will be over 15 independently curated exhibitions, each addressing a different aspect of drawing. The exhibits will cover an array of contemporary and historical practices, giving viewers a sense of drawing's diversity and enduring importance as an expressive medium. Works by early Dutch masters will be on view along with images by such luminaries of BC and Canadian art as B.C. Binning, Emily Carr and Jack Shadbolt. Many of the exhibitions in the series will showcase new trends in contemporary drawing, with examples from Vancouver and beyond.

Drawn is organized and presented by the Vancouver Drawing Festival Society (VDFS), a non-profit society incorporated with the Province of British Columbia. The purposes of the society are:

1. To promote awareness and appreciation for the medium of drawing.

2. To organize an annual contemporary art festival in Vancouver aimed at celebrating the diverse achievements of artists working in the drawing medium.

3. To help bring recognition and validation to professional artists, both emerging and established, who choose to work in drawing as one of their principal media.

4. To promote critical discussion about the ongoing relevance of drawing in contemporary society.

Participation in Drawn is by invitation only. Drawn is not responsible for the specific content or subject matter of any work displayed or advertised.