Mr Speaker unveils new artwork created by the public
17 February 2014 (updated on 17 February 2014)
On Monday 17 February The Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow, unveiled a new Parliamentary artwork in Portcullis House - made by 376 members of the public and award winning artist Rachel Gadsden. A result of the Big Draw at the Houses of Parliament the four new works are a modern interpretation of existing mosaics of the four patron saints of the UK in Parliament’s Central Lobby.
Mr Speaker described the work as ‘delightful’ saying: ‘Parliament was extremely pleased to be part of this year’s Big Draw and to be able to support the Campaign for Drawing and the first ever Family Arts Festival. We were encouraged that so many families from all over the UK took part and that the end result, created by Rachel Gadsden, was able to incorporate so many of their fantastic drawings. I can’t remember having had anything so colourful exhibited at Portcullis House’.
The nationwide Big Draw and Family Arts Festival, ran in October last year. The public were able to make their own artwork based on the saints after taking a tour of Parliament and viewing the mosaics. They worked with Rachel, who made copies of their work to inspire and include in the new montaged work that now hangs in Portcullis House.
Rachel Gadsden, who was awarded the 2013 National Diversity Award for “Positive Role Model for Disability”, described working on the project as: ‘The most wonderful opportunity to engage creatively with members of the public, families and young people on an artistic commission that has been created in collaboration. Westminster Hall at Parliament is such an atmospheric important building, and the energy and excitement that emanated during “The Big Draw” events is clearly now so evident in the final beautiful paintings.’
It is planned that the painting will hang in Portcullis House until the end of February and they will then move to the House of Lords where they will be displayed in Millbank House. The project was funded by The Speaker’s Art Fund. During the visit Mr Speaker met with the artist Rachel Gadsden, Sue Grayson Ford from the Campaign for Drawing and a group of families who took part in the project.