Friday 15th May saw the Museum of Classical Archaeology open their doors after hours for the much anticipated ‘Drink and Draw’ event. Set in a peaceful, light and airy space, it was the ideal place to unwind, wandering round the museum with a glass of wine and a sketchpad. Artists Susie Olczak and Loukas Morley were also on hand to provide tips and guidance for those who wanted it. There was an enthusiastic turnout and, at times, even long queues to get in.

The sheer number of people that attended, given impending exams, was striking. Even in a regular term, the hectic pace of Cambridge life leaves little time to indulge in one's creative tendencies. Simply setting aside time to take advantage of the diverse array of exhibitions and galleries can be a struggle, let alone finding the time or place to engage actively in drawing or painting.  It is easy to become pessimistic towards the opportunities for artistic expression available in Cambridge, where the demanding schedule more than anything seems to repress creativity. 

However this pessimism may be misplaced, since a number of people at the Drink at Draw laid emphasis on the issue, not of being constrained by time, but of simply being unaware of events going on. A testament to this is the high attendance at well-publicised events, for instance the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Love Art After Dark in January.

One might expect Drink and Draw to be dominated by Architects or Art Historians but there was a diverse range of people, from first year English prelim-ers to finalists and a theoretical physicist. Nor was it just long-time art fanatics in attendance; a Murray Edwards student who had never sketched or indeed, harboured much interest in the art scene before coming to Cambridge, admitted to a new appreciation for art thanks to informal events such as these. Though perhaps not as well advertised as the theatre or sporting world, the art scene among Cambridge students is alive and flourishing.

If you missed out this time, fear not. Speaking to one of the event organisers, I was assured that after the success of this first Drink and Draw, similar events will be hosted again soon; to receive notifications of these on Facebook, "like" the Museum of Classical Archaeology’s page. The Museum is also open from 10am to 5pm every weekday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays. People are encouraged to drop by at their leisure to soak up the calming atmosphere whilst sketching or simply enjoying the beautiful casts.

@SammyLove_13