Gods and goddesses provide inspiration for Museum's Big Draw

The families and myths of the Roman Gods are the focus for a fun, family-friendly Big Draw event at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday 19 November.

Almighty Myths will run from 10.30am to 1pm with last entries at 12.30pm. The event has been organised by the Young Explainers, a group of students from Plymouth University who are working with the Museum on a special project to produce new information about its historically important Cottonian Collection.

Many of the Roman Gods are featured in the Cottonian Collection - an outstanding art collection of fine prints, Old Master Drawings, oil paintings, sculpture and furniture amassed by an 18th century gentleman called Charles Rogers.

Children and adults will be able to explore the gallery that the Collection is currently displayed in, learn more about figures such as Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and Mars and then create their own drawings based on what they've seen and learnt about.

The event is being held to mark the Big Draw - an annual celebration of drawing that aims to encourage people to develop their creative skills regardless of their age or ability. Events this year will be taking place across 15 different countries and are expected to involve around 200,000 people. It is also part of a new Family Arts Festival taking place across the UK for the first time from 18 October to 3 November - a two year programme funded by Arts Council England to develop art activities for families.

Admission to the 'Almighty Myths' event is free and there is no need to book in advance. People are welcome to come along for as little or as long as they like.

For more information about all the City Museum and Art Gallery's events visit www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk or call 01752 304774.

More information about the Big Draw is available from www.campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw. More information about the Family Arts Festival is available from www.familyartsfestival.com.