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 moreThank 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 more
Paula is coming to Margate!
By Victoria Pomery
We are thrilled to announce that our crowdfunding campaign has reached 115% of its target... Read moreDeadline 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 more
Meet 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 moreThank you for your donations so far!
By Victoria Pomery
We have reached over 25% of our target!... Read more
Five reasons to donate today!
By Victoria Pomery
We need your help to bring Paula the Polar Bear to Margate this summer... Read moreWith 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
Boys & Maughan Solicitors
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
Anonymous
Melody Bottle
Broadstairs
David Sowter
Dunmow
Anonymous
Janet Bevan
RAMSGATE
Tau Jafta
London
Felicity Carlton
FAVERSHAM
Anonymous
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
John Davies
Canterbury
Matthew Shaw
LONDON
Anonymous
Roberto Fabiani
Margate
Peter Driver
Reading
Lhosa Daly
Bristol
Anthony Mchale
London
Cassandra Piper
Margate
Katie McGown
Faversham
Anna Crisp
London
Kemet Hawthorne Pink
LONDON
Diana Clare Briscoe
LONDON
Anonymous
Lucie Newman
Sittingbourne
Joanna Murray
MARGATE
Sheila Turley
SEVENOAKS
Emrys Plant
Westgate-on-Sea
Anonymous
Helen Leask
Margate
Peter Wrench
Brighton
Thomas Mcclean
LONDON
Bryony Botwright-Rance
London
Anonymous
Mary Collins
LONDON
Anonymous
Angela Thomas
ABINGDON
Sue Collins
DIDCOT
Ann Norton
LONDON
Jackie Finch
Margate
Anonymous
Jeannette Field
Canterbury
Roland Matthews
ROMSEY
Gilly Wadmore
Canterbury
James Page
London
Anonymous
Anonymous
Laura Denton Brierley
Whitstable
Anonymous
Andrea Strong
Minster
Rita Gayford
London
Carolyn Young
LONDON
Peter Kasch
Sevenoaks
kathryn baker
Bromley
Helen Caddick
Whitstable
Richard Wyber
Woodford Green
Susan Brightling
Margate
Sarah Wyld
Westgate-on-Sea
Caroline Alton
Great Missenden
Tamsin Dillon
London
Simon Reid
Dartford
ema dennis
Broadstairs
Anonymous
Anonymous
H. T. Arlidge
Hassocks
Anonymous
Anonymous
Trevor Meadowcroft
COULSDON
Johnny Parry
Bedford
Sandra Elston
Broadstairs
Franca Pauli
Margate
Lawrence College Junior School
Ramsgate
Nicole Newman
London
Margot Leslie
Canterbury
Hannah Dell
Maidstone
Maxine Sutton
Margate
Anonymous
Deborah Heath
Herne Bay
Cordelia Milward
London
Anonymous
Chloe Pointer
Margate
Melissa Gabbott
Broadstairs
Anonymous
Ali Kenny
MARLOW
Tim Molloy
London
Nigel Cartwright
Margate
Anonymous
Johnathan Magill
Whitstable
John Langley
London
Laura Harbard
Bedford
Anonymous
deborah catesby
Whitbourne
Mark Wright
Whitstable
Anonymous
Cathy Cooper
TWICKENHAM
Kathleen Gilding
Richmond
Deborah Humm
ASHFORD
Sally Pennycate
NORTHAMPTON
Terence Watkins
LONDON
Diana Wass
READING
harry barlow
Sandwich
Anthony Shoring
Margate
Lesley Bloom
Ilford
Robert Rutter
London
Jackie Tainsh
Westgate On Sea
Kate Pieroudis
London
Anonymous
Derek Medhurst
SEVENOAKS
Steve Villette
Margate
Stella Wood
CHESSINGTON
Ginette Casey
Margate
Jennifer Chan
London
Mary Berg
Canterbury
Jennifer Kember
Broadstairs
juliet challis
Broadstairs
Richard Faulkner
Margate
efua thomas
Whitstable
Emma Wilcox
Faversham
Sally Hunter
Sandwich
Diane Wharton
ASHFORD
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Clare Millett
Broadstairs
Linda Telfer
Margate
Sally Carroll
DEAL
sally appleby
Canterbury
vivienne chapman
Westgate-on-Sea
Sian Ruffles
Bexleyheath
Anonymous
Mary Hough
Northwich
Candy Lovegrove
Broadstairs
Sally Childs
Margate
Terry Learmouth
Tunbridge Wells
Anonymous
Annabella Coldrick-Ford
London
Shirley Marshall
Sandwich
Anna Bang
Margate
Jennifer Scott
Margate
Wendy Chaplin
Margate
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
janet williams
Margate
Sarah Wills-Lee
Rainham
Anonymous
Jane Mortimer
Shefford
Anonymous
William Newland
Canterbury
Barbara Newman
LONDON
Hannah Shotton
Canterbury
Laura Ford
London
Clare Robson
London
Anonymous
Gary Cooper
HAYES
Natasha Bucknor
London
Linda Fox
Ingatestone
Marilyn Wilton
Broadstairs
Joanne Balaraj
London
Jill Todd
London
Michael Smith
London
Emma McArthur
Margate
Anonymous
Anonymous
Ruth Mattock
Bridport
Anonymous
Merrin Kalinowski
London
Moya Stirrup
Margate
Jeannie Terry
romford
Jean Goode
Cambridge
John Reid
DUNBLANE
Louise Clifford
Colchester
Millie Pearce
BIRCHINGTON
Amit Nachumi-Burrows
Canterbury
Ian Cloughton
YORK
Piers Sanders
London
Medina Ward
Broadstairs
Anonymous
Peter Davis
Margate
Stephen Harrison
Margate
Anonymous
Wendy Gregory
Upper Harbledown
Anonymous
Katie Millington
Rainham
Anonymous
Ellen O'Hara
Kirk Ireton
Anonymous
Anonymous
James MacDowell
Margate
Lillian Henley
Margate
Anonymous
Ruth Tomkin
Ramsgate
Bill Aldridge
London
Anonymous
Karen Eslea
Whitstable
Joanne Iles
Birchington
Valerie Woodcock
Canterbury
josephine boyd
st. martins
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Samara Jones-Hall
Ramsgate
John Bade
Margate
Sarah Medway
London
vivienne bennett
London
Steven Butten
Margate
THEA SCOTT
LONDON
Martin Cook
Whitstable
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jonathan Goode
Herne Bay
Clive Stevens
Margate
Virginia Fitch
CANTERBURY
Kerry Millett
Broadstairs
Anonymous
Anonymous
Angela Krzyzanowska
Faversham
Anonymous
Kate Boys-Layton
Ramsgate
Anonymous
Anonymous