Sunday 30 October sees another Big Draw opportunity, when members of the Society of Architects, friends and families will have access to the Laxey Wheel and Mines Trail from 10am – 12pm for an opportunity to sketch this much-loved heritage site.

And it really is for anyone: creatives, professionals and families are all welcome and the usual entry fee has been waived for all those who who register with sofa_chair@manx.net in advance, or who send a message to the Society via the event page on www.facebook.com/IoM.SofA.

SofA’s ‘little Big Draw’, as it’s been dubbed, is a very informal event when you will have the opportunity to sketch the Lady Isabella, or the remains of the compressor house further up the valley. There will be no formal instruction, guidance or history lessons, just friendly faces and encouragement for sketchers of all ages – a real family day out to round off the half term holiday. And after a morning’s sketching, the newly reopened Ballacregga Corn Mill is right opposite the entrance to Laxey Wheel if you fancy a treat.

October sees the launch of this year’s Big Draw around the world, and the Isle of Man has played its part with events across the Island during half term. The Big Draw was founded in the UK in 2000 to promote visual literacy and the universal language of drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention, and it has been adopted across the globe with nearly 30 countries involved this year. The Laxey Wheel event has taken the 2016 ‘Steam’ theme literally but rolled it back to water power and the largest working water wheel of its kind in the world.

The Society of Architects, Manx National Heritage and Culture Vannin, are sponsors of Isle of Architecture, a year-long celebration of the built environment which encourages appreciation of the Isle of Man’s rich and varied architectural heritage such as the Laxey Wheel. SofA’s ‘little Big Draw’ will give anyone interested the opportunity to look closely at the Wheel and mine buildings, and to examine and sketch the design and engineering in more detail.

More information can be found at the Society of Architects Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IoM.SofA/  

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