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Gentle giant takes pride of place at Anglia Ruskin

Published: 22 March 2024 at 10:00

Alice Courtley with her giant giraffe outside ARU

Giraffe welcomed to its new home in time for Cambridge Standing Tall sculpture trail

Anglia Ruskin University’s giant giraffe has taken pride of place outside the university’s main entrance on East Road in Cambridge – in time for the official launch of the Cambridge Standing Tall trail.

Cambridge Standing Tall is being delivered by local charity Break in partnership with Wild in Art, with all funds raised going towards the charity’s work for young care leavers.

Featuring 31 giant giraffes in different locations across Cambridge, the sculpture art trail promises to be the perfect activity for the Easter holidays.

Sculpture of giraffe outside the entrance to Anglia Ruskin University's campus in Cambridge

Titled “Endangered”, the giraffe sponsored by ARU has been designed by award-winning illustrator and former student Alice Courtley (pictured).

A graduate of ARU’s Children’s Book Illustration MA course, Alice has covered the 2.5m tall giraffe with pictures of different species to raise awareness of endangered animals around the world.

Anglia Ruskin University graduate Alice Courtley seated at the base of a giant giraffe sculpture, which she painted

Joe McCullagh, Head of the Cambridge School of Art at ARU, said:

“This is a fantastic initiative and as a university we are delighted to support the charity Break and its incredible work in raising the aspirations of children and young people. 

“The trail is a spectacular event, which importantly brings our university together with all of our regional communities in a fun, interactive, playful, social and educational way.”

As part of the project, ARU is also hosting three smaller giraffes – or Mini Gs – designed by pupils from Swavesey Village College, Parkside Community College, and St Matthew’s Primary School.

The trail of 31 giant giraffes and 62 Mini Gs runs until 2 June and can be followed using the official app or with a trail map, which can be collected from locations across the city or downloaded from the Cambridge Standing Tall website.

Two images of illustrator Alice Courtley next to a giant giraffe sculpture outside Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge

Photos by Kai Hocknell, 3rd year student on the BA (Hons) Photography course at ARU.