Pupils pick up penguins
The biggest public art project in Britain's schools this year is to take flight on Friday.
The first of a flock of over 100 spectacular Penguins to be adopted by more than 80 Liverpool schools is being delivered to Blackmoor Park Junior School on Friday, 25 September.
The arrival of the first penguin to the junior school on Leyfield Road marks the start of a stream of exciting creative activity taking place throughout the city as part of the Go Penguins project.
As the official sponsor of the Go Penguins school scheme, Home Bargains, is delivering the colony of penguins to playgrounds city-wide.
Under the scheme, the city’s primary and secondary schools have the opportunity to name and decorate their very own penguin which measures three feet.
From Monday 23 November, the penguins, bearing their own individual designs will then go on display in mini-flocks. They will appear around the city, alongside larger penguins designed by professional artists, as part of A Winter’s Tale which will underpin Liverpool’s Christmas celebrations.
Go Penguins aims to deliver important environmental messages to children in an exciting way and every school which signs up to the project will receive a comprehensive information pack providing eco-friendly information.
Joe Morris, operations director at Home Bargains, said: “This is a great initiative to inspire Liverpool children to learn more about the environment in a fun and engaging way, whilst also celebrating their artistic and creative talents. As a keen supporter of local community projects, Home Bargains is delighted to be able to sponsor such an innovative scheme.”
Go Penguins, organised by Wild In Art and commissioned by Liverpool City Council, was inspired by the success of Liverpool's Capital of Culture highlight - Go Superlambananas!
Sally Ann Wilkinson, Director of Wild in Art, said: “Every Wild in Art project carries an important message and the delivery of penguins school’s marks one of the most exciting phases Go Penguins. The demand for penguins from schools has been overwhelming and we are looking forward to seeing the huge range of designs which the children will be working on.”
Councillor Berni Turner, Executive Member for Environment at Liverpool City Council, said: “We’re delighted to see so many schools have adopted a penguin as it ensures thousands of pupils will be plugging in to our Year of Environment and playing a major part in creating a very special Christmas experience. I’m sure the penguins will spark a huge amount of creative energy in Liverpool's children, as well as spreading important environmental messages to families across the city.”
