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We’re excited to share that booking is now open for our upcoming online talk with artist Nava Waxman (Canada), hosted by Draw to Perform.
Saturday, 2 May7:00 PM (London time) Online via Zoom
In this talk, Nava will share insights into the development of her practice over the years, including her drawing and movement performances and interdisciplinary approach. The session will also explore her use of drawing and sound through the software Sonic Moves, offering a unique perspective on the relationship between gesture, mark-making, and sound.
Book your free ticket via Eventbrite. We look forward to welcoming you online!
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Call for Ideas: Performative Drawing & Disability
Draw to Perform Festival 25-26 July 2026 (in development)
Draw to Perform is currently developing the Draw to Perform Festival for Drawing & Disability, planned for summer 2026 in collaboration with Chailey Heritage Foundation.
As part of our early research and development phase, we would love to hear from disabled artists who are working with, or interested in, performative drawing.
This is not an open call and no selections will be made at this stage. We are in the process of gathering ideas, voices, and conversations that can help shape the festival.
What we’re interested in
We are keen to hear about:
– Drawing as performance, action, gesture, or live process
– Expanded, experimental, or interdisciplinary approaches to drawing
– Access-led, disability-led, or body-led drawing practices
– Ideas that could work as: Live drawing performances, Participatory or audience-facing work, Performative drawing workshops
Ideas can be fully formed or very early-stage. We are especially interested in practices that challenge conventional ideas of drawing and performance.
Who can respond
– Disabled artists at any career stage
– Artists with disability that working in drawing, performance, live art, movement, sound, or hybrid practices
What to send
If you’d like to share an idea, please send:
– A short description of your practice and/or proposed idea (up to 300 words)
– Any links to documentation, website, or social media (optional)
– Access needs you’d like us to be aware of (optional)
There is no fixed deadline at this stage. We are gathering ideas on a rolling basis while the festival is in development.
Why get in touch now?
Sharing your ideas helps us:
– Shape the artistic direction of the festival
– Advocate for disabled-led work within our funding application
– Build relationships with artists for future programming
If funding is secured, we will follow up with artists about formal invitations, fees, and timelines.
How to get in touch
Please email your ideas or questions to:
drawtoperform@icloud.com (with the title ‘Your name_DTP festival 2026’ in the subject line)
We warmly welcome informal conversations and are happy to discuss ideas before anything is written down. Draw to Perform is committed to celebrating disabled artists and creating inclusive, accessible spaces for experimental drawing and performance.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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Draw to Perform proudly presents the latest inspiring talk by our visionary founder and director, Ram Samocha. OCAD University – Drawing Across Disciplines, 21/11/2024
This video documents a special online artist talk given by Ram Samocha as part of the Drawing Across Disciplines course at OCAD University, which was led by artist and educator James Olley.
In this presentation, Ram Samocha shared his unique approach to performative drawing, discussing the intersection of performance and visual art in his practice. He highlighted key elements of his work, emphasizing the dynamic and temporal nature of drawing as a live and participatory experience.
The talk also reflected on the history and vision of Draw to Perform, an international platform founded by Samocha, dedicated to the art of drawing performance. Over the years, Draw to Perform hosted numerous festivals and events, bringing together artists and audiences to celebrate the act of drawing as performance. These events served as spaces for experimentation, collaboration, and innovation in contemporary drawing practices.
Follow us for more updates and videos: https://linktr.ee/drawtoperform
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Exciting Residency Announcement: Sachiyo Kaneko at Draw to Perform in Brighton
We are thrilled to announce that Sachiyo Kaneko, a talented artist who has dedicated her life to the art of SHO – a Japanese-Chinese calligraphy tradition – will be joining us for an exclusive residency at Draw to Perform in Brighton. Her residency will run from September 23 for one week.
Sachiyo began her journey into SHO at the age of 7, and since then, drawing lines has become her life’s work. She is passionate about transforming this ancient oriental tradition into a contemporary and universal art form, making it accessible for future generations.
Her residency will explore new ways of integrating performative drawing elements with her calligraphic art. While traditional SHO allows people to only see the final tracks on paper, Sachiyo seeks to incorporate the full motion and energy of her body’s movement, giving audiences a more complete, immersive experience. This integral approach has led her to collaborate in big-format performances, video dance, and shows featuring dancers.
At Draw to Perform, Sachiyo will have the opportunity to dive even deeper into this intersection of drawing and performance, sharing her process with other creative minds. This is an important moment in her career, and we are excited to witness how this residency will open a new chapter in her artistic journey.
Join us as we welcome Sachiyo Kaneko and support her as she pushes the boundaries of SHO through her innovative fusion of drawing, movement, and time.
Follow all our upcoming activities and updates online: https://linktr.ee/drawtoperform
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COMING SOON
Draw to Perform festival 2022
Sat & Sun 9-10 & 16-17 July 2022
Phoenix Art Space, 10-14 Waterloo Pl, Brighton, UK BN2 9NB
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Draw to Perform would like to thank all the people that came last week and joined our Free Your Map art tours. Thanks to all the people who were involved and collaborate with us, and all the organisations that supported this project.
Here are some close-ups of the artwork. All were part of the alternative tours that we did as part of our collaboration with the Enayball & Sussex Dance Network.
Free Your Map explored the city through the eyes and art of people who use wheelchairs. An accessible visual arts tour exhibiting work by disabled artists that draw with the Enayball tool created by @drawtoperform and @enayball and SDN.
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Draw to Perform is happy to share some information about our upcoming project, which will happen next month in London at the Canning Gallery. Please come and join us on the day of performances, workshops, panel discussion, or just drop by and watch the exhibition at the gallery from 5-20 March. Looking forward to seeing you with us in the Field of Action.
For more info please visit the Draw to Perform page on Eventbrite.
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Artwork by Nazir Tanbouli. Photo by Marco Berardi.
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