Mersey Ferries p-p-p-p-pick up Penguin!

Go PenguinsCllr Mark Dowd and Cllr Chris Blakeley are joined by Cllr Warren
Bradley, Sally-Ann Wilkinson and Perry the Penguin on board the
Royal Iris to launch Merseytravel's partnership in Go Penguins.

Mersey Ferries p-p-p-p-pick up Penguin!
Published: 6th August 2009 16:10
A small colony of penguins is set to invade the public transport network as part of the magical transformation of Liverpool into an Antarctic wonderland.

The early arrival of one of the colony, nicknamed Perry, was spotted yesterday on board the famous Mersey Ferries.

The visit of Perry coincides with the announcement of Merseytravel, owner and operator of the service, as a presenting partner of Go Penguins, a project that will see more than 100 penguins across the city as part of a unique Winters Trail.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, welcomed the arrival on board Royal Iris ferry. He said: "We are proud to support this project which draws together the themes of art and the environment in such an imaginative way. The Superlambananas captured the public imagination so spectacularly last year and we hope Go Penguins will do likewise.

"As you'd expect, I'd encourage families to use the public transport network to come and visit all of the locations and enjoy this fantastic project over the winter months."

Councillor Dowd was joined on board the ferry by Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Warren Bradley, who said: "The success of Go Penguins depends on the support of everyone - be it the public and private sector to artists and schools - and it's fantastic to see that support is growing so soon after the project was launched.

"To see Perry the Penguin on the ferry gives you a great flavour of how the Winters Trail will add that touch of magic to the city and guarantee a Christmas for everyone to remember."

More than one hundred unique penguins will decorate Liverpool City Centre as part of the Go Penguins project.

The mass participation public art event, commissioned by Culture Liverpool, is being organised by Wild in Art - the team behind 2008's hugely successful Go Superlambananas.

From mid-November, colonies of small and large penguins will be on display for seven weeks in a special city centre trail.

Sally Ann Wilkinson, Director of Wild in Art added: ""Wild in Art is delighted to welcome Merseytravel on board as a Presenting Partner of Go Penguins - A Winter's Trail.

"The involvement of the business community in Merseyside is pivotal to the success of the event which we are sure will be a hugely popular part of the city's festive offer. We hope that Go Penguins will bring together a wide range of partnerships, providing an important link between businesses, artists, schools and communities."

As part of its diverse and unique public art strategy Merseytravel has commissioned three Penguins and they will be located at key sites across the region.

Perry, dressed as a Mersey Ferry captain, will soon swap his uniform for a personal design by the children of Claire House Hospice in Wirral. Children from the charity, supported by Merseytravel in 2009, will create their own design with public art officer Emma Lawrence.

The second, as yet unnamed penguin will be offered to the public to design as part of an open competition by Merseytravel - so watch this space.

Merseytravel will select the design of the third penguin for a portfolio of designs submitted through the Go Penguins call to artists submission process.

Schools, artists and communities can get involved in what is bound to be one of the most popular events of 2009 by emailing info@gopenguins.co.uk.

Go PenguinsThe team are inviting schools to adopt a 3ft penguin - for just £450 - which can be designed in any fun and creative way they like and will then go on display in a city centre indoor venue. The school will get to keep their personalised penguin once the trail has finished.

Artists are also being asked to come up with designs for the 5ft penguins, with sponsors picking the designs they want to represent themselves or their organisation. Designs have to be submitted by the end of August.

Businesses can become Penguin Patrons by sponsoring their own work of art for £3,000.

For more information, go to http://www.gopenguins.co.uk/ .

The initiative is a highlight of A Winter's Trail which runs from November to January and will see a series of special penguin-themed events take place across the city, with the support of numerous cultural organisations.

Go Penguins have been inspired by Liverpool's Year of the Environment, and the festive spectacular also aims to raise awareness of climate change by reflecting on the melting of the ice caps in Antarctica.

Merseytravel is also an official partner of Year of the Environment.

Source:
http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Cheshire/Neston/CH64/News/Local-News/137617-Mersey-Ferries-p-p-p-p-pick-up-Penguin