Norwich Airport staff have been treated to an exclusive preview of “Juniper,” the beautifully decorated Mini G giraffe sculpture created by pupils at West Earlham Junior School for this summer’s eagerly awaited GoGoSafari sculpture trail.
Funded by Norwich Airport, Juniper is one of 60 smaller giraffe sculptures designed by schools and local community groups, as part of the trail’s Learning and Community Programme.
These Mini Gs will soon be joining over 50 large sculptures, featuring giraffes. lions, rhinos, gorillas and elephants, each decorated by talented artists, to brighten the streets of Norwich and Norfolk as part of the GoGoSafari trail – a public art event organised by the charity Break, in partnership with Wild in Art and the Zoological Society of East Anglia, along with Norwich BID and Chantry Place.
The trail aims to raise funds to support Break’s work with young people living in, around and beyond care, across East Anglia.
It officially launches on 23 June and will run for 10 weeks until 30 August, transforming the city and parts of Norfolk into a colourful art safari and bringing the community together in support of Break’s work.
Norwich Airport Managing Director Richard Pace and HR Manager Stephanie Dyball recently visited West Earlham Junior School to meet the young artists and get a first look at Juniper.
Juniper carries an important conservation message. Every child at the school researched an endangered animal, created a drawing of it, and contributed their artwork to the sculpture. The children prepared the Mini G by sanding and painting it gold, before adding their colourful animal illustrations and sealing it with varnish to withstand the outdoors.
Richard Pace said: “We’re absolutely delighted to sponsor West Earlham Junior School’s Mini G sculpture and to support this fantastic community initiative. Meeting the children and seeing their creativity and teamwork up close was truly inspiring. We can’t wait to see Juniper on the trail this summer alongside all the other incredible sculptures – it’s a wonderful way to bring people together and shine a light on Break’s important work.”
Catrin Eyers, Headteacher of West Earlham Junior School, added: “We are so proud of our pupils for the thought, care, and creativity they’ve poured into Juniper. The giraffe celebrates our thoughtful, kind-hearted, diverse, and inclusive school community. It’s been fantastic to see every child contribute, and we are grateful to Norwich Airport for making our involvement in this wonderful project possible.”
“The Learning & Community Programme is such a vital part of the GoGoSafari trail,” said Break Senior Partnerships Manager Pete Marron. “It’s all about inspiring creativity and it’s wonderful when our sponsors go the extra mile to give schools the chance to be part of something truly special. The sculptures look absolutely incredible and I can’t wait for all the children to see their amazing designs brought to life out on the trail.”
In addition to supporting the school’s Mini G, Norwich Airport is also sponsoring one of the 51 ‘Big Five’ large animal sculptures that will feature on the GoGoSafari trail, promising a summer of fun and discovery across the city and beyond.
For more details about GoGoSafari visit the Break website.
