The Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine is proud to be participating in The Big Draw, an international drawing festival based in the United Kingdom. The theme for this year’s Big Draw is “every drawing tells a story.”

During the entire month of October, the museum and theatre will feature drawing-based activities for children and families including workshops, collaborative art projects, and other enrichment activities, as well as a book signing by Maine children’s book author, Chris Van Dusen, at 11 a.m. on Oct. 10.

The Big Draw is described as: “The world's biggest drawing festival with thousands of enjoyable, and mainly free, drawing activities which connect people of all ages with museums, outdoor spaces, artists, designers, illustrators — and each other. The Big Draw is for anyone who loves to draw, as well as those who think they can't!”

The festival has grown from one day in October 2000 in the U.K. to an annual month-long festival of drawing across the world. The first Big Draw attracted 180 partner organizations. By 2011, the number had risen to 1,300, with over 260,000 people participating.

“I’ve been interested in having the museum and theatre participate in The Big Draw for a long time and when I heard that we had grant funding available from Allagash Brewing and the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation for an artists in residence program, I jumped at the chance to combine the two ideas,” said educator and community engagement coordinator Brittany Liscord. “Art programs, and especially drawing programs, are always popular here at the museum and theatre and The Big Draw seemed like a perfect fit for us and a wonderful opportunity for the community.”

Special programs and workshops scheduled for the month of October include: Alphabet Art (Oct. 8, 10:45-11:45 a.m.) and more.

Most programs are free of charge and geared for children ages 3-7, but all museum and theatre visitors are welcome to participate. In addition, a yet-to-be-selected curator and three artists in residence will be developing and implementing complementary programs and projects geared at engaging entire families in the art-making process. Stay tuned for updates on these programs.

As a special treat, from 11 a.m. to noon on Oct. 10, the museum and theatre will welcome Maine author Chris Van Dusen to a book signing and illustration demonstration. Van Dusen will sign books and create life-size drawings in real time. This event is free with admission. Visitors may bring their own book for the author to sign, or purchase one from the museum and theatre store.

Van Dusen is the author and illustrator of “Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee,” “The Circus Ship,” “Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit,” “King Hugo’s Huge Ego,” “If I Built a Car” and many more.

For more information on The Big Draw, including program descriptions, or any of the museum and theatre’s other projects, visit www. kitetails.org or www.thebigdraw.org/the-big-draw.

The Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine is located at 142 Free Street in Portland, 207-828-1234.