Help us bring ‘Paula the Polar Bear’ to Margate this summer to take our Animals & Us exhibition to the streets and get everybody talking about climate change.
We want to take our summer exhibition, Animals & Us, out of the gallery and onto the beach, creating a true spectacle as 'Paula the Polar Bear' roams across Margate sands in the height of the summer season. With Margate's beach as the backdrop, Paula will surprise visitors to Margate and encourage thought-provoking conversations about how humans can co-exist with animals. Professional puppeteers will train local performers to work with Paula throughout the summer and Turner Contemporary Navigators will accompany Paula, breaking the ice with conversation starters about climate change. It will be the first - and possibly last! - time that a polar bear has been seen in Margate.
Because of ongoing and potential loss of their sea ice habitat resulting from climate change, polar bears were listed as a threatened species in the US under the Endangered Species Act in May 2008. Paula the Polar Bear is a life-sized 'puppet'. She has already travelled to Washington DC, Finland and Auckland to raise awareness of environmental issues. Paula the Polar Bear is on loan from Greenpeace UK.
As part of our campaign we have created a range of exciting rewards including exclusive products and experiences. This includes a limited-edition tote bag and print featuring an illustration created exclusively for us by Sprankenstein as well as a puppeteering workshop.
Animals & Us (25 May - 30 September 2018) is a major exhibition exploring artists' reflections on the relationship between humans and other animals. At a time when scientists are warning that humans may be causing the 6th mass extinction on earth, there has been a growth of interest across numerous disciplines in human-animal studies, including amongst contemporary artists. This exhibition is inspired by artists' imaginative, provocative and diverse explorations into our relationships with animals. How do we see other animals and how do we imagine they see us? How do we see ourselves in relation to and as animals, and how have these human-animal relations been reflected in art? Help us get these conversations started outside of the gallery.
We want everyone to have the power to make art happen
Art Happens is crowdfunding with a difference. Created by Art Fund, it is the only platform of its kind designed specifically to help museums and galleries, and we make sure 100% of your donation goes directly to the project of your choice. If you’d like to know more, see our FAQs, contact us on 0844 415 4100, or email arthappens@artfund.org
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Paula is coming to Margate: dates announced!
By Victoria Pomery
Thanks to your generous support, Paula the Polar Bear will be roaming the streets of Margate for five weeks on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Thursday 26th July 2018... Read more
Thank you for your support!
By Victoria Pomery
The campaign has now closed and thanks to all 292 funders who helped us raised £19,288 – 128% of our target! We could not have done this without you... Read morePaula is coming to Margate!
By Victoria Pomery
We are thrilled to announce that our crowdfunding campaign has reached 115% of its target... Read more
Deadline extended and donations to be doubled!
By Victoria Pomery
Our campaign has been extended for one week and all donations will now be match-funded thanks to a private donor through Art Fund... Read moreMeet the artist: Sprankenstein
By Victoria Pomery
In this update, we speak to Margate artist Sprankenstein who has created the exclusive design for the 'Paula the Polar Bear' tote and limited edition prints... Read more
Thank you for your donations so far!
By Victoria Pomery
We have reached over 25% of our target!... Read moreFive reasons to donate today!
By Victoria Pomery
We need your help to bring Paula the Polar Bear to Margate this summer... Read more
With thanks to...
Heather Stewart-Jones
ASHFORD
Iain Sturch
BIRMINGHAM
Mike Childs
London
Mary Pringle
BROADSTAIRS
Tracy Russell
Ramsgate
Dorothee Thyssen
Canterbury
Stephanie Corking
Margate
Anonymous
Steve & Claire Almond
Bromley
Kristy Widdicombe
CANTERBURY
Shan Maclennan
LONDON
Albert Feuillatre
Ransgate
Antonio Parente
Margate
Deborah Allwright
London
Sherry Baker
Broadstairs
Nicola Hilliard
London
Abigail Barry
Herne bay
Rebecca Wigmore
Margate
Jonathan Neame
Faversham
Anonymous
Dave Chapman
Margate
Anonymous
jeanine connor
Westgate-on-Sea
Anonymous
Anonymous
Pamela Burniston
Herne Bay
Christine Brandon
LONDON
Ann Watson-Thomas
BROMLEY
Sarah Dance
Folkestone
Alan L Jones
Warrington
Lindsay Wright
Sawbridgeworth
Anonymous
Helen Witcher
Barnet
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Margate
Anonymous
Sophie Mollison
London
Susan Killin
Woking
Anonymous
Ivan del Renzio
Ramsgate
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Matthew Mapleston
Margate
Carolyn Pitkin
Margate
Paul Colbeck
London
Gwen Hedley
Folkestone
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Melody Bottle
Broadstairs
David Sowter
Dunmow
Anonymous
Janet Bevan
RAMSGATE
Tau Jafta
London
Felicity Carlton
FAVERSHAM
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Brian Rybolt
Hastings
Katie Pye
Canterbury
Benedict Faria
London
Mick Williamson
FOLKESTONE
Camilla Nicholls
London
Charlotte Walshe
CANTERBURY
Anonymous
Jilly Sharpe
Broadstairs
stephen bass
london
Gabriel Holland
Ramsgate
Helen Page
Thatcham
Sandra Griggs
Brentwood
Anonymous
David Jennings
Ramsgate
Canterbury Auction Galleries
Canterbury
Elaine Cairns
Margate
Anonymous
Catherine Hennessy
Isleworth
Anonymous
Jonathan Badyal
London
Kiki Case
Broadstairs
Daniel Corn
Margate
richard downes
London
Phil Crowder
Sheerness
Bea Belicza
Margate
Kim Thome
Margate
Edwina Livesey
LEWES
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Canterbury
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LONDON
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Margate
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Reading
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Bristol
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London
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Margate
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Faversham
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London
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LONDON
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LONDON
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Sittingbourne
Joanna Murray
MARGATE
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SEVENOAKS
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Westgate-on-Sea
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Margate
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Brighton
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London
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ABINGDON
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DIDCOT
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Margate
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Anonymous
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Whitstable
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Minster
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Sevenoaks
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Bromley
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Whitstable
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Woodford Green
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Margate
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Westgate-on-Sea
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Great Missenden
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ema dennis
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Anonymous
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Hassocks
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Anonymous
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COULSDON
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Bedford
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Broadstairs
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Margate
Lawrence College Junior School
Ramsgate
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London
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Canterbury
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Maidstone
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Margate
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Herne Bay
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London
Anonymous
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Margate
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Broadstairs
Anonymous
Ali Kenny
MARLOW
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London
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Margate
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Johnathan Magill
Whitstable
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London
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Bedford
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deborah catesby
Whitbourne
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Whitstable
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TWICKENHAM
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Richmond
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ASHFORD
Sally Pennycate
NORTHAMPTON
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LONDON
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READING
harry barlow
Sandwich
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Margate
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Ilford
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London
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Westgate On Sea
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London
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Margate
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Margate
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London
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Canterbury
Jennifer Kember
Broadstairs
juliet challis
Broadstairs
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Margate
efua thomas
Whitstable
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Faversham
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Sandwich
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ASHFORD
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
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Broadstairs
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Margate
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DEAL
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Canterbury
vivienne chapman
Westgate-on-Sea
Sian Ruffles
Bexleyheath
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Northwich
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Broadstairs
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Margate
Terry Learmouth
Tunbridge Wells
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London
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Sandwich
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Margate
Jennifer Scott
Margate
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Margate
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
janet williams
Margate
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Rainham
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Jane Mortimer
Shefford
Anonymous
William Newland
Canterbury
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Canterbury
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London
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London
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London
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Ingatestone
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Broadstairs
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London
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Margate
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Anonymous
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romford
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YORK
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