PK Porthcurno presents ‘PK’s Creatures of the Deep’ inspired by the international public art and climate action project THE HERDS, supported by Art Fund.

From April to August 2025, ever-growing herds of life-size puppet animals will stampede into cities across Africa and Europe to flee climate disaster. THE HERDS is a public artwork on a scale never before attempted and will vividly dramatise the climate crisis.

With support from Art Fund, PK Porthcurno joins THE HERDS alongside 43 museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK, bringing artistic events, workshops and educational activities to local communities to inspire the next generation and deepen connections with the natural world.

PK Porthcurno is partnering with Alverton Primary School to create a large-scale puppet from recycled materials for Mazey Day on 28th June 2025, part of the Golowan Festival in Penzance, which attracts over 70,000 visitors each year.

Inspired by THE HERDS and Cornwall’s coast, the puppet will be designed through three workshops led by a freelance artist and supported by PK’s Learning Facilitator. Pupils will design, build, and decorate the puppet, which will reflect the festival’s theme, “On the Crest of a Wave.”

After Mazey Day, the puppet will be displayed at PK Porthcurno to raise awareness of THE HERDS and PK’s environmental programme, Planet PK.

THE HERDS will engage with audiences along the 20,000km route with special UK performances in London, 27 – 29 June, and Greater Manchester, 3 – 5 July. All events are free and have been designed in collaboration with local partners to create a hugely powerful participatory event. 

An accompanying learning resource ‘Let The Wildness In’, supported by Art Fund, will be available to engage schools, families and communities across the world with free downloadable resources, education and activity packs, reading lists, lesson plans and open-source puppetry design kits.

THE HERDS is presented in partnership with global climate organisations – including WWF International, Save the Elephants, Wild Africa, Global Rewilding Alliance and TED Countdown – as well as numerous arts organisations, scientists, artists, zoologists, politicians, climate activists, universities and civil society groups across Central, West and North Africa and Europe to present one united call for action.   

Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund, said: “Art Fund is supporting 44 museums and galleries across the UK to take part in THE HERDS with their communities. Through exhibitions, performances, workshops, and educational activities, we’re excited to enable even more people of all ages to get involved in their local area and be inspired by museum collections and this extraordinary international climate movement.”

THE HERDS is produced by David Lan and Tracey Seaward for The Walk Productions and created by Amir Nizar Zuabi with Executive Producer Sarah Loader. 

‘PK’s Creatures of the Deep’ is inspired by THE HERDS and supported by Art Fund.