Liverpool is being transformed into a magical winter wonderland this Christmas. Prepare to be amazed by sparkling lights, street theatre, enchanting window displays, music, arts and entertainment. And then there’s the small matter of Liverpool being taken over by penguins.
As the festive season approaches we are pulling out all the stops to become the Capital of Christmas. As in 2008, Liverpool City Council, Wild in Art, our cultural partners and the Business Improvement District are working together to create a programme of events and activities for all the family. Please take the opportunity to stroll around the new-look Liverpool, sampling the best in retail therapy and give yourself time to enjoy the festivities which will be a wonderful mix of art and entertainment.
The Christmas fun will begin on the evening of the 19 November with the arrival of an enchanting Snow Queen and on the 22 November, Liverpool will transform into an Antarctic winter wonderland as a flock of more than 200 specially decorated penguins take roost.
With so much to see and do, make Liverpool yours this Christmas. Come along and join in the winter’s trail…
For further information pick up a leaflet from the 08 Place on Whitechapel and other city outlets or call 0151 233 2008.
This is a copy of the news letter mailed to me today. I can't post the link cos there isn't one!!
It's less than two weeks until flocks of penguins arrive on the streets of Liverpool, the Wirral and St Helens! Here are some highlights from the Go Penguins team. The full trail map with information on all the penguins, will be available from 22 November online at www.gopenguins.co.uk or to pick up from any Merseytravel centre.
Thank you to all the artists, businesses, community groups and schools who have made this event possible. PAUL O'GRADY'S Owl Ma Penguin We are delighted to add TV and radio star Paul O'Grady to the list of top Liverpool artists designing penguins. His design, called 'Owl Ma Penguin' portrays an old woman and was inspired from childhood memories of ladies that were locally called 'Mary Ellen's'. Paul's creation has some typical O'Grady touches such as a leopard skin head scarf and old ladies slippers, with a fur trim.
Owl Ma Penguin will be located in the Adelphi Hotel, and is being created by artist Nicola Windever. O'Grady got involved in the project as a supporter of WWF (wwf.org.uk), the world's leading conservation body, and their invaluable work on climate change. Paul said: 'Penguins are fantastic little animals and it's heartbreaking to think what we're doing to the earth is threatening their very existence. If my attempt at being Leonardo Da Vinci can help people stop, have a laugh and think about global warming then I'll be very happy.'
Carrie, OUR PLASTIC BAG PENGUIN There are many fantastic stories to be told through our penguins, about Merseyside, the environment, communities and artists. One of these stories is told by Carrie the penguin, by artist Wendy Williams, which has a serious side in drawing attention to plastic waste and the need to conserve our energy resources through recycling. Williams' work stems from a concern over climate change, and was inspired by discarded carrier bags. She's used over 300 recycled bags knitted together to cover the surface of the penguin, which creates a beautiful effect.
This beauty is sponsored by The Environment Agency and will be on display at the Capital Building on Old Hall Street, Liverpool.
Creativity in Schools In what has become Britain's biggest schools art event of the year, more than half of the city's schools have been working on their penguins. These mini flocks will go on display in Liverpool city centre, the Wirral and St Helens alonside the 132 large 5ft penguins. Go Penguins has unleashed the inner-artist of thousands of pupils and has led to a huge creative conversation in hundreds of classrooms about Liverpool's Year of nvironment and the wider, life-changing issues surrounding global warming.
One of the 94 Liverpool schools involved was Gateacre Community Comprehensive School, who hosted a unique decoration day (image left), engaging more than 150 children from nine primary schools to create what will be the first penguin colony.
Went to a real penguin colony when I was in the Falklands, they really hum. The smell of rotting fish is really overpowering but they were great to see.
With just 5 days until the penguins arrive on the streets of Liverpool, Wirral and St Helens. Our artists are putting the final touches to the penguins and we are preparing to introduce them to the people of Merseyside. Thank you to all the artists, businesses, community groups and schools who have made this event possible.
Here are a few highlights from the Go Penguins Team. The full trail map with information on all 132 penguins and 13 schools colonies, will be available from 22 November online at www.gopenguins.co.uk or to pick up from any Merseytravel or tourist information centre. CommunitIES GET BEHIND Go Penguins
Merseyside Community groups have embraced Go Penguins, with over 24 groups taking part in the project by designing penguins and working with our artists. To have their outstanding creations on public display is a cause for celebration, so go out and see them and show your appreciation for our thriving creative communities.
One example of a community collaboration - ten members of ACSIL (Amputee's & Carers Support in Liverpool) had two fun-filled workshops with artist Selina Dunne of Whimsical Arts to develop the design for 'Pacsil' (image left). His colourful clothes symbolise the group's positive energy and his prosthetic leg gives a hopeful message of a full and fun life. Sponsored by Liverpool Primary Care Trust with Liverpool City Council and Neighbourhood Management Services, 'Pacsil' will be located at the Central Reservation on The Strand.
Wirral and St Helens
St Helens and Wirral will have their own colonies of penguins to celebrate their rich historical, cultural and sporting heritage, with all penguins created in partnership with Wirral Council and St Helens Council. In St Helens, 10 penguins including a colony of schools penguins will be on display in a town centre trail leading from The World of Glass, Church Square and Church Street. And across the Wirral, 12 penguins including a schools colony will be on display, at a variety of attractions from Birkenhead to West Kirby.
The image on the left shows 'Together As One', by artist Claire Stringer, sponsored by Port Sunlight Museum & Garden Village and Wirral Council. The design (image left) shows penguins huddled together, a means to keep warm for survival. if you are in St Helens keep your eyes peeled for the Johnny Vegas Penguin, created by artist Tony Bishop with the St Helens comic and TV star.
A Winter's Trail
Go Penguins is the highlight event of A Winter's Trail; bringing together a special programme of seasonal entertainment across Liverpool and Merseyside. You can view the full programme of events here. Events begin at Liverpool ONE this Wednesday (18 November), with the opening of Santa's Ice Palace and the Christmas lights switch-on. Find out more about the event here. And on the 19 November an enchanting Snow Queen with special powers of illumination will glide through the city on her beautiful sleigh.
From this Sunday (22 November), Liverpool ONE will be home to a flock of Penguins, including Flora, a penguin inspired by Cath Kidston Floral designs and intricately painted by artist Sarah Jane Richards.