School Otters showcased in summer exhibition
Princetown Visitor Centre is hosting a special exhibition showcasing mini otter and cub sculptures designed by students from across Devon.
Inspired by Dartmoor National Park’s Moor Otters Arts Trail nine education providers were given smaller undecorated sculptures for students to transform for the ‘School Otters’ exhibition - and the results are fantastic!
Those taking part are Camphill Community Devon; Christow, Elburton, Horrabridge, Ilsington, Okehampton and Widecombe-in-the-Moor primary schools; Teign School and Tavistock College. Their designs take inspiration from the beauty of the landscape and climate change through to the heroes of the pandemic.
The School Otters exhibition is free to visit but donations are welcome and money will be recycled back into conservation projects that keep Dartmoor special.
Orlando Rutter, Dartmoor National Park’s Head of Outreach and Understanding, said: “This outreach project provides an inspiring way to engage with local students alongside the official trail. We gave each school free rein to design their sculptures, drawing on Dartmoor’s special qualities or on topical themes that interest the artists.
“It was important to us that students were treated as ‘equal makers and artists’, that their imagination and creativity was allowed to blossom after what has been a very difficult year for schools and education providers. Teachers reported that this project was just the sort of boost students needed for their mental wellbeing.”
Rebecca Martin, Dartmoor National Park’s Visitor Services Manager, said: “We’re delighted to say students responded with creativity, flair and humour – but don’t just take our word for it, why not visit Princetown Visitor Centre to see for yourself? We’re also offering a range of ‘otterly fantastic’ items for people to buy from our visitor centres. There’s Moor Otters t-shirts, mugs and otter toys to books and specially designed pens and pencils. When you buy from this exclusive range, you’re also making a valuable contribution to the work we do as well as giving yourself a memento of taking part in the sculpture trail."
The School Otters exhibition is open during usual business hours and runs until 15 September. When the exhibition finishes in mid-September, the mini sculptures will be returned to their creators where they get to decide what to do with them.
Following the first Moor Otters Arts Trail in 2017, some held an auction to raise funds for school activities, others used their sculpture as a curriculum enrichment opportunity. Some sculptures were displayed proudly in reception areas to highlight pupils achievements to parents and visitors.
The otter has made a comeback on Dartmoor over the last 18 years and the Moor Otters Arts Trail celebrates this shy and secretive creature who loves to play in moorland rivers. It aims to raise £60,000 for Donate for Dartmoor, the National Park’s fundraising scheme for conservation projects which help look after the moor’s cultural heritage, habitats and wildlife for all to enjoy now and in the future.
People can find the sculptures on different trails on Dartmoor Plymouth and in Newton Abbot, Totnes and Topsham near Exeter. There's a special 'roaming' otter who’s out and about in different places - so keep those eyes peeled or join the Moor Otters community on Facebook or follow on Twitter.
All trail sculptures are being auctioned when the trail ends and people have the opportunity to bid for one and give it a permanent home.
The main sponsor of Moor Otters Arts Trail 2021 is South West Water. The trail is supported by a range of Valued Partners: Absolute PR and Marketing, BRS Images, Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood Auctioneers, Bovey Castle, Jolly Roger Lifesize Models, Mail Boxes Etc, Visit Dartmoor and the Western Morning News.
