Background:

Originally entitled ‘Flock’, this Community Arts project was created by Eden Arts in Cumbria, in the Lake Districts of England.

Further developments have since been made since, and it has now become ‘Shaun the Sheep’s Pom-Pom Parade’.

From 2013 – 2014 the project was developed and re-branded by a company called The Wool Room in partnership with Aardman Animations (the creators of Shaun the Sheep )and The Campaign for Wool as ‘Shaun’s Pom-pom Parade’ .

Collectively the project has attempted a Guinness World Record for the largest display of handmade sheep (nearly 9000!).

Pyrenees Presents Incorporated (with the support of Aardman Animations, The Wool Room and other associated organisations who project manage the ‘Shaun the Sheep Pom-Pom Parade’) will now bring the parade to the Pyrenees region of Victoria. And will create a large scale installation of the pom-pom sheep, attempting to beat the current world record and then exhibiting the results in time for the release of ‘Shaun the Sheep, The Movie’ in Australia for March the 26^th, 2015.

“Pyrenees Presents Incorporated” is a “not-for-profit Community Arts  organisation based in Landsborough, which has been set up to promote and contribute to the arts in the Pyrenees region in the broadest possible sense.”

Overview of Project:

On Friday the 28^th of November from     10am- 3pm, the project will be launched at the Landsborough Town Hall, where local families and individuals, Schools, Community groups, Disability and Aged Care services will be attending.

The day will consist of Art & Craft, entertainment and a ‘Shearers’ Afternoon Tea.

The launch will present guest speaker Padraic Fisher, Director of the National Wool Museum & will also feature workshops where 3 local Arts & Crafts practitioners who use wool will offer lots of activities for all to take part in. A local famer will also being running a Woolclassing workshop.

The main feature of the launch will be to begin making the many Pom-Pom Sheep for the large scale installation. And of course to bring along any that have been made already!

There will also be lots of Shaun the Sheep prizes on the day, with thanks to STUDIOCANAL and the ABC for donating them.

This project will be an excellent opportunity for the communities in the Pyrenees to be recognised on a state, national and international level, celebrating Australian wool via their sheep farming and creative communities in a project that everyone can take part in.

With Shaun the Sheep’s help, maximum exposure is anticipated; thanks to their massive targeted reach, along with additional activities to help promote the 2015 movie launch.

With the Pom-pom Sheep Parade project launching in Landsborough in the Pyrenees Region, then opened up to communities within and around the region, I see this project as a rare opportunity for all ages, abilities and people from all walks of life to be creative together.

At the conclusion of the project, the subtotal of pom-pom sheep will be exhibited at the Ararat Regional Gallery from March 16- April 12 , 2015.

Pyrenees Presents is proud to host this project and feels it will encompass the dynamic differences that exist with regional Victoria. We see the pom-pom sheep also presenting humour to the creators and the audience of the installation; bringing visual comedy and creative connections to quiet places.

For more information about the launch and project, please get in touch!

https://www.facebook.com/pyreneespresents  and https://www.facebook.com/ShaunsPomPomParade

Or get in touch with us via e-mail at – pyreneespresents@gmail.com

(Images courtesy of Eden Arts, The Wool Room)