The Mayor of Stockport, Laura Booth, joined over 90 guests – sponsors, artists, community groups, local businesses and project partners – at the Light cinema for the VIP and media launch of Stockport’s Giant Leap Frog Art Trail.
Organised by Stockport’s Business Improvement District, Totally Stockport, Stockport’s Giant Leap celebrates the £1bn programme of investment and development that is regenerating the town, a giant leap forward for Stockport, creating exciting opportunities for business and a destination of choice for residents and visitors.
A totally collaborative and engaging project, Stockport’s Giant Leap has been brought to life by Stockport based businesses, local artists and community groups to attract new and returning visitors into Stockport at a time when many city and town centres are struggling to entice regular users back onto the High Street.
The project was originally conceived 2 years ago following lots of blood sweat and tears, and a few sleepless nights.
Mike Lamont, Chair of Stockport’s Business Improvement District praised the project team for the tenacity and determination to create Stockport’s first ever giant art trail:
“2 years ago Paul Taylor, BID manager, and Helen White from Marketing Stockport, came up with the idea to create a fantastic Art Trail around the Town Centre that could match on scale the Bees, Bulls and Elephants either in concept or being delivered in other locations. It was a bold statement and now it has become reality, an inspiring story to showcase some of the great changes that are attracting new visitors making Stockport a popular destination.
“A massive thank you to our corporate sponsors, artists, partners and suppliers who have created what I believe will a legacy for our town”.
Businesses who leapt forward to sponsor a giant frog include: Amshire IT Solutions, BASF, C&C Insurance Brokers, CDL, Concentrix, Girlguiding Stockport, Holiday Inn Express, Light Cinema, Marketing Stockport, Merseyway Shopping Centre, Nexperia, Orbit Developments, Robinsons Brewery, Spring & Co, Stagecoach, Stockport Council, Stockport College and Totally Stockport.
This is a link to a video, produced by Marketing Stockport at the launch event – A frog story:
Nick Yates, managing director at Future Design, led on the creative where one of his team created the original sketch for what is quickly becoming an iconic image in Stockport.
Totally Stockport’s BID manager Paul Taylor said:
“This is a great way to entertain and attract new visitors; to showcase Stockport and its vibrant business community and to support local groups, including the youth community, who are after all tomorrow’s giant leapers.”
Stockport’s Giant Leap Forward is free entertainment and open to visitors throughout the summer.
Printed trail guides are available from local shops and businesses as well as from the Totally Stockport team at Merseyway on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer and can be downloaded from the website – www.stockportsgiantleap.co.uk
After the trail closes, the frogs will be auctioned with surplus funds awarded to charity to create a Giant Leap legacy fund.
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