The University of Cambridge is supporting Cambridge Standing Tall, an art sculpture trail delivered by Break – a local charity working across Cambridgeshire to raise the aspirations of young people in care.
After the success of Cows about Cambridge in 2021, Break, together with delivery partners Wild in Art, will be bringing this new sculpture trail to the streets of Cambridge for 10 weeks from 21 March – 2 June 2024.
There will be 31 large giraffe sculptures forming an art trail around Cambridge, as well as more than 60 Mini Gs, medium sized giraffe sculptures created by schools and community groups - displayed in internal locations such as shopping centres, shop windows and libraries. The University is sponsoring three large giraffes as part of the trail and has been involved in painting two of the Mini Gs.
Kamal Munir, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for University Community and Engagement said, “The University of Cambridge is committed to widening participation in higher education, including for care-experienced and estranged young people through the Realise Project, which supports students from highly marginalised groups typically under-represented at the university level. We are pleased to support Break and looking forward to participating in Cambridge Standing Tall.”
- Growth will be located outside Great St Mary’s Church on Senate House Hill in the centre of Cambridge and has been designed and painted by East Anglian artist Charlie Stafford. Charlie also worked with a small group of students, who are care experienced or estranged, to produce a Mini G, Gerard, that will be in the Grand Arcade. Gerard's geometric 'spots' have personal significance to the artists, and one spot even matches the University's large giraffe sculpture.
- Cosmic Explorer will be at Eddington Square. Multi-award winning artist, MrASingh is the artist behind this giraffe. A Mini G co-sponsored with residential developer, Hill, and painted by schoolchildren at the University of Cambridge Primary School will be on display in the Storey’s Field Centre in Eddington.
- Hubert – the promotional giraffe for the Cambridge Standing Tall Trail - will be outside the door to the West Hub (on the Ray Dolby Centre side).
- Corpus Christi College PhD student Emma Bouckley has also designed a Mini G after her design won a competition. The Corpus Christi Camelopard (a medieval word for giraffe) will be at the Hilton Hotel.
- Cambridge University Press & Assessment has sponsored a Mini G decorated by schoolchildren from the Bellbird Primary School in Sawston and is on display in the window of the Cambridge University Press bookshop. The children of Bellbird named their Mini G ‘United’, to represent the wonderful things children can achieve through their ideas and creativity.
About Cambridge Standing Tall
The second trail of its kind to grace the city of Cambridge is so much more than art on the street. Cambridge Standing Tall is about bringing together whole communities - not just sponsors, artists, schools and other groups but residents, visitors and the young people Break supports too.
Local schools and community groups are also being encouraged to take part by adopting and decorating one of up to the fifty Mini Gs, a smaller sculpture that will be part of the trail’s Learning & Community Programme.
We hope as you gaze up at the giraffes in Spring 2024 you see them as we do: a representation of Break, standing tall for young people with care experience and telling them that the sky is never the limit
About Break (Registered Charity No 286650)
Break makes life better for children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care. Working across East Anglia, the charity firmly believes that every child, no matter their start in life, deserves a bright future. Starting by building and earning trust, and then providing opportunities for young people to engage with, Break’s aim is to walk with those they support every step of the way to independence. And the support doesn’t stop there, a lifelong offer means the charity is there whenever and wherever they’re needed.