Drawing: the exercise of imagination on line

Drawing as an approach is regaining the importance it once had as a way of thinking or acting that is fundamental to the human experience. It is being considered less as a particular use of materials or sub-activity of a particular discipline, and more as an approach discrete in itself.

C4RD’s purpose is to make space for drawing -  to maintain the visibility of a characteristically humanist mode of expression and to explore the boundaries of the approach that is drawing; the encouragement and refinement of understanding of which the arts and society at large can benefit. C4RD seeks to facilitate access and dialogue for current drawing practice independent of structural forces in commercial and institutional educational settings. Drawing defined as ‘human imagination on line’ reinforces drawing’s capacity as a performed analogy (mentally/manually) of the continuum that is human consciousness; two marks, as in mathematics, necessarily make a line.

Since 2004 C4RD has provided a public exhibition space in London that is independent and non-commercial and a web presence dedicated to the exhibition of recent drawing. C4RD is in the unique position of being able to provide a whole building dedicated to drawing showing regular exhibitions of a broad variety of drawing practice, and also be able to house residencies specifically for those for whom drawing is a core part of their practice. This is in addition to the C4RD web presence, online residencies and provided off-site residencies.

C4RD welcomes submissions from those with a particular interest in drawing as a core experience from within and outside the arts. It seeks a balanced programme of working with art journalists, therapists, collectors, critics, curators, artists, designers, draughters, architects, creatives and institutions in group and individual presentations to present a broad variety of possibilities in drawing. C4RD is staffed and funded by the generosity of individuals and private and corporate donors, and is a UK Registered Charity.

Andrew Hewish

Director