Pop-up Penguins Public Art Trail in Christchurch
- By: Auckland for Kids
- Published:
Christchurch is hosting a very special waddle of visitors over the summer holidays. Auckland families visiting Christchurch for their summer holiday will be able to enjoy the Pop Up Penguins public art trail which includes 120 penguins, each decorated by artists and school children.
Each of the large penguins has a unique design created by established and emerging artists from Christchurch and other cities in New Zealand.
Artists submitted designs during lockdown, which were shown to sponsors through an online gallery as they signed up to the project. Each sponsor chose a design for their penguin, which includes playful adaptions of children’s toys, stunning landscapes, intricate wildlife images, creations made from recycled materials and even an award-winning book – all produced on the 160cm high penguin canvas.
The sculptures are on display from 29 November for nine weeks and can be found across Christchurch City from The Terrace to Akaroa and Christchurch Adventure park in Kaiapoi.
Those families that want to hunt for penguins and explore the city over the summer, will be helped along by a free trail map that will be distributed across the city in Harcourts offices, libraries, cultural venues and locations where the penguins are on display.
For those with smart phones, an official Pop Up Penguins app will be free to download from the App Store and Google Play. App users will be able to search for penguins using an interactive map. Special codes displayed with the penguins can be entered into the app to collect the sculptures and unlock rewards that have been gifted by the sculpture sponsors. Rewards include free coffees and ice creams, as well as opportunities to enter competitions to win hotel stays, shopping vouchers and exclusive Pop Up Penguins-themed merchandise.
Claire Cowles, Event Producer talks about the trail, “In 2014, we wanted to encourage people to get out into the city again after the earthquakes. This time, we wanted to celebrate all the new places in the city like Christchurch Adventure Park, the Margaret Mahy playground and Tūranga, but also to support the businesses and organisations that have taken a hit this year because of Covid-19. For all those reasons, it’s a very different trail, but still takes trail followers to the best of the city.”
On Tuesday 16th February 2021, the 50 large penguins will be sold at an auction run by Harcourts. From the auction proceeds, 75% will be gifted to local charity, Cholmondeley Children’s Centre.
Tanya Cooke, General Manager of Cholmondeley Children’s Centre reflects on what their involvement with Pop Up Penguins means to the charity, “Cholmondeley is thrilled to be part of this event and incredibly grateful to Wild in Art and all the sponsors who have ensured Pop Up Penguins can come to life in these challenging times. 2020 has been a difficult year to raise funds for the children and families we support and this event will ensure we can continue to be there for local families in times of stress and crisis.”
Pop Up Penguins is delivered by Wild in Art in partnership with Harcourts.
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