Art Exchange joins THE HERDS

Art Exchange announces 'The Herds: Tiger Making Workshops' 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, Art Exchange 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.

The Herds: Tiger Making Workshops are artist led workshops where campus and local communities are invited to build a life-sized tiger out of recycled materials collected from the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus. The workshops are inspired by William Blake’s iconic poem, The Tyger.

The workshops will take place on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 May within the parkland of Wivenhoe Park and will be led by local artists Clare Iles and Iris Gunnarsdottir. Once complete, the life-sized tiger will be paraded through campus to the gallery… and beyond!

Jess Twyman, Curator of Art Exchange, said: "We are so excited to be joining THE HERDS and bringing this project to Art Exchange at the University of Essex. I immediately saw synergy between THE HERDS and our planned William Blake inspired exhibition Tyger Tyger! (25 April to 1 September) which explores the University’s huge collection of prints and facsimiles by William Blake and the works of contemporary artist Francis Alÿs that focus on children and play. Having students work with our academics researching environmental issues while building a life-size tiger was the clear way we could celebrate and support THE HERDS."

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. 

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 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. 

The Herds: Tiger Making Workshops is inspired by THE HERDS and supported by Art Fund.

Tyger Tyger! is supported by the Bean Trust.