Belle The Canterbury Giant

belle is the canterbury youth giant, created as part of the portrait of a nation's 'exploring roots' initiative for the liverpool city of culture's finale.

Strange Cargo created the Canterbury Youth Giant for The Portrait of a Nation national programme, helped by young people from across the area.

 Our consultation with young people showed that Canterbury is popular, tolerant to diversity and was seen as a fashionable, cool, safe place to live and visit. The iconic Cathedral was identified as very important, and the Giant should represent multiple faiths. The Giant should also be young, forward thinking, and female.

School groups and local grafitti artists came to our temporary workshop to create her clothing, help with the hours of papier mache and watch over her creation.  

When Belle was awakened she was accompanied by her dancing, dreadlocked gargoyles and the loud and wonderful Jugnu Bhangra.

Strange Cargo created the Canterbury Youth Giant for The Portrait of a Nation national programme, helped by young people from across the area.