AN art and music festival will be staged in York next year after organisers secured £15,000 from the Arts Council England.

Drawsome! will take place over four days in May 2022, showcasing new talent alongside established artists and headline acts.

With the funding, the team is planning its most ambitious event to date. The festival will take place at venues across the city in celebration of local, national and international talent, working with Young Thugs, Spark:York, The Crescent Community Venue, and other partners.

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Rich Corrigan, festival founder, said: “We want to inspire people to let their creativity soar through the mediums of illustration and music. We do this through hands-on, interactive sessions combined with great quality shows.

"This isn’t just a drawing class or set of performances, this is an opportunity to be inspired, get stuck in, and appreciate the potential of our creative spaces – all while having fun.”

Drawsome! has been running since 2016, with mini events and one full festival in 2019. The 2020 event had to be pulled due to coronavirus.

The events also look to feature other art forms, showcasing musical talent including the likes of Bull, York; Jeffrey Lewis and Los Bolts, from New York; and Las Mitras, Glasgow, as well as workshops and interactive exhibitions.

York Press:

Rebecca Carr, creative director of Kaizen Arts CIC, who helps deliver Drawsome!, said: “Creativity is not a solo endeavour; you need input and collaboration to really create something special, and that is why collaboration is at the heart of Drawsome! 2022.

"There is so much creative talent in York and we are excited to showcase it to as many people as possible.

"We want the city to be the creative capital of the region and thanks to the support of Arts Council England we are able to start to realise this ambition.”

To get a taste of what Drawsome! will offer, visit Spark:York during York Design Week until Tuesday, October 26, for a host of free events for people of all ages. Highlights include a print swap exhibition and an associated makers market, free workshops for all the family, as well as live music on Saturday, October 22.

For more information on this event and to keep up to date with Drawsome! 2022 visit www.yorkdesignweek.com.