SMALL tortoises are due to take over shop windows next summer, as part of a creative learning programme to celebrate the artistic talents of Jersey’s young people and community groups.
Durrell has officially launched the programme, calling it a ‘key component’ of the 2023 giant tortoise sculpture trail, which was unveiled last month.
Alongside the giant tortoise artworks, which people will be able to visit in different parts of Jersey next year, there will be a trail of smaller tortoises displayed in the windows of several businesses.
More than 50 representatives from the Island’s school and community groups gathered at Jersey Zoo recently to hear how young people could get involved in the art event.
Jersey Zoo conservation learning manager Fiona Marchant said: ‘We want Tortoise Takeover to bring together schools, colleges, nurseries and community groups to create a wild and whimsical “creep” of young tortoises.
‘We hope to see innovative and imaginative designs that showcase the creative talent of every part of our community. We want to make this trail as inclusive and accessible as possible.’
Durrell worked with Wild in Art to design the new tortoise sculpture, which will become an ambassador for all the work that the charity undertakes with reptiles across the globe.
The organisation is hoping that every school and community group in the Island will sign up to take part.
Each participating school or group will receive a blank sculpture, accompanied by a curriculum-linked learning resource pack.
The Zoo’s chief executive, Dr Lesley Dickie, has previously said the reptile was chosen because of Durrell’s long association with it and because, although it had been around for hundreds of millions of years, it was now critically endangered.
Any school or group keen to get involved can email learning@durrell.org for more information.
Businesses of all sizes can still get involved in the trail by sponsoring a giant sculpture or a young-tortoise sculpture for a school or community group.
To find out more and to contact the team at Durrell, visit durrell.org/tortoise-takeover.
