GoGoDiscover’s 21 T.rex sculptures have stomped off the streets after nine weeks of bringing colour, fun, discovery and beautiful art to Norwich this summer. Discover the impact that the trail had in numbers and when the T.rex will return with teeth…
GoGoDiscover has been delivered by local charity, Break, in partnership with Wild in Art. Based on the number of trails maps printed, distributed and digitally downloaded from the Break website, the GoGoDiscover project team estimate a minimum of 300,000 visitors took on the trail this summer.
The free trail has raised thousands in fundraising for children’s charity Break, who provide lifelong support to children and young people in care, on the edge of care or leaving care. The charity has seen a big increase in visitors to their website, as well as increased engagement across all Break and GoGoDiscover social media channels.
Talented local and national artists decorated the 2 metre sculptures and nearly 50 volunteer trail rangers gave up their time to help support Break and look after the T.rex.
Artist Sophie Li-Rocchi is Head of Art at Gresham Prep school and this year designed and decorated two T.rex – Dino Hunter and SNAP!, and said: “It has been wonderful to be involved as an artist on the GoGoDiscover trail. I had loads of fun painting SNAP! and Dino Hunter in lockdown, and it has been an absolute pleasure to see them on the streets of Norwich this summer. Every time I have walked past them, it has been brilliant to see so many people with trail maps and completing the trail, with lots of selfies being taken on the way! It has obviously been a great success for Break and has certainly provided people with an excellent excuse to explore the streets of Norwich, my favourite city, engage with art, and, of course, meet some pretty friendly dinosaurs along the way! The trails not only provide some great family friendly fun, but also provide artists with a brilliant source of inspiration, with fantastic opportunities to create and exhibit, whilst supporting a brilliant cause. I can’t wait to see them out again next year!”
21 businesses from across the region sponsored the T.rex sculptures.
Chantry Place is a presenting partner of GoGoDiscover and had three T.rex at the Centre this summer, including one it sponsored. Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, said: “GoGoDiscover has been incredibly positive for Norwich this summer with many locals and tourists visiting the T.rex across the city and in the Centre. We’ve really enjoyed having them and seeing all the positive reactions and smiles they have had from all ages – and they have certainly brought lots of colour and fun to Norwich. We love supporting Break’s fundraising charity trails and we can’t wait to see the T.rex sculptures back next year in even larger numbers and the new Steppe Mammoths across the county. It is a great way for people to explore all the gems we have right here on our doorstep, support tourism and the local economy, and, most importantly, raise funds for this wonderful charity.”
And, the GoGoDiscover dinosaurs won’t fade into extinction. They will return this October Half Term for one week only for a special ‘Farewell for Now’ event at Norwich Cathedral, which coincides with Dippy the Diplodocus’s last week in Norwich.
Then in the Summer of 2022, the dinosaur sculptures will return with even more T.rex in the city, while Steppe Mammoth sculptures will take over Norfolk and link to the discovery and exploration of Norfolk’s deep history coast.
A GoGoDiscover 2022 Learning & Community Programme, in partnership with Dipple & Conway Opticians, is also taking place and the smaller T.rex sculptures, named Breakasaurus, will join the larger sculptures on the GoGoDiscover trail in Summer 2022.
Peter Marron, GoGoDiscover project manager for Break, comments: “This trail could not have come at a better time to help boost the city and its wonderful retailers and tourism, and we have had many businesses telling us that the dinos have brought them extra footfall and trade. It also has been wonderful for families to come together and all ages have enjoyed seeing these beautiful pieces of art – everyone seems to love the T.rex. We are so excited to bring an even bigger trail to Norwich and Norfolk in 2022, raise more vital funds for Break and work with some new sponsors and artists. The schools project is an integral part of the success of our trails and we can’t wait to see all the creative talent and ideas from all those involved.”
Many of the T.rex and Steppe Mammoth sculptures will be auctioned off at the end of next year to raise much needed funds for Break.
For more information about Break visit break-charity.org
Text TREX to 70085 to donate £3. Texts cost £3, plus one standard rate message. #GoGoDiscover
