Stagecoach South West goes bananas for Great Gorillas Project
Stagecoach South West announced that it has signed up to sponsor a unique piece of three-dimensional public art – a life-sized model gorilla. The gorilla is part of the Great Gorillas Project, which not only celebrates the 90th birthday of the region’s largest and best-known zoo, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, but is also raising funds for gorilla conservation and providing a showcase for specially commissioned artists.
Stagecoach’s very own banana-covered gorilla was painted last week (week commencing 15 April) in the painting space made available in Exeter’s Guildhall Shopping Centre. The artist whose design has been commissioned is Devon resident Cleo Heard. Known as ‘Miss*C’, Cleo is an urban community artist who divides her time between creating her own work and teaching others. She is regularly consulted for users of youth services to develop re-engagement and confidence-building programmes for young people and their communities.
Stagecoach South West’s Managing Director Michelle Hargreaves commented “When I was first asked about sponsoring a gorilla I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it! But having heard in detail about the project I really wanted to show our support and our chosen design is certainly eyecatching. It’s a fantastic, fun way to celebrate Paignton Zoo’s 90th birthday and, at the same time, raise funds for an very worthwhile cause.”
Cleo Heard added “I’m delighted my design was picked by Stagecoach. It’s been such a rewarding project to work on and I can’t wait to see my finished gorilla on display in Exeter later in the year.”
Paignton Zoo Director of Marketing & Development Pippa Craddock said: “We are very pleased to have such a significant name on board. The project is an amazing mix of art, education, conservation and public engagement. The funds raised will be used by Paignton Zoo to support gorilla and conservation projects and a local community project.”
Stagecoach’s, and other sponsors, life-size model gorillas will be displayed in public for 10 weeks across the summer and into the autumn, creating a unique art trail around Torbay and Exeter.
The Great Gorillas will be invading the streets from Saturday, 3 August until Sunday, 13 October 2013. They will then be at Paignton Zoo from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 October 2013 before being auctioned for charity on Wednesday 6 November 2013.
Other partners include:
• Torbay Council
• Torbay Town Centres Company
• Exeter City Council
• English Riviera Tourism Company
• Wild in Art, a leading public art company
Conservation
The Great Gorillas Project will not only enable Paignton Zoo to continue its vital conservation and education work, it will also help the work to save the Cross River gorillas from extinction. The Cross River gorillas closely resemble the lowland gorillas at Paignton Zoo.
Found along the southern section of the Nigeria-Cameroon border, fewer than 300 Cross Rivera gorillas remain in the wild. It is the most endangered African ape, ranking among the world's 25 most endangered primate species. Illegal hunting for bushmeat and habitat loss threaten the future of Cross River gorillas. Further information: www.greatgorillas.org.uk
The gorillas of Paignton Zoo
Paignton Zoo is home to five male lowland gorillas - 30 year old Pertinax, Kiondo who is 10 years old and Kivu who will be 10 in November; and N’Dowe and Matadi who are both 9.
Stagecoach South WestStagecoach South West provides local bus services across Exeter, East Devon, Torbay, South Devon, North Devon, Somerset and into Cornwall and Dorset. Over its financial year from May 2011 to April 2012 it carried a total of 27 million passengers and operated a total of 14 million miles. It employs a total of 884 staff located at six depots and three outstations.
Cleo Heard / Miss*C
Miss*C is an urban community artist who divides her time between creating her own work and teaching others. Based in Exeter, Miss*C has spent the last six years teaching graffiti techniques to others in a wide range of settings and locations in the UK and Europe. Both a freestyle graffiti writer and stencil artist, Miss*C teaches graffiti workshops to schools, youth clubs, businesses and special educational units.
Offering therapeutic benefits through the artistic process, Miss*C's Graffiti Academy is regularly consulted for users of youth services to develop re-engagement and confidence building programmes for young people and their communities. As a trained community artist and experienced workshop facilitator, Miss*C is trained as an Bronze and Silver Arts Awards Advisor, can deliver Edexel "Supporting Employability and Personal Effectiveness" training and has a FDa in Community Arts and the Environment and a BA(Hons) in Fine Art.
To book a workshop or for any general enquiry please contact Miss*C on 07768 693369 or email info@graffitiacademy.com
