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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

The Gruffalo goes on safari for art charity

This news post is over 6 years old
 

Author Julia Donaldson will present a special event at Blair Drummond Safari Park

Children’s favourite The Gruffalo is going on safari this summer in aid of charity Artlink Central.

Families are being offered the chance to get up close to the world’s favourite furry monster at Blair Drummond Safari Park on Saturday 19 August.

The much-loved beast will be joined by his creator Julia Donaldson as she gives a special live wild performance of her works, including a sneak world preview of her not yet released safari-inspired picture book The Ugly Five.

The event will raise funds to support the work of Artlink Central, a charity close to the author’s heart. Donaldson, who lived in Bearsden until 2014, has been linked with the charity – which brings artists together with those experiencing exclusion, disability or disadvantage – for more than a decade.

She said: “I’ve been patron of Artlink Central since 2006, a fantastic charity which puts artists, actors, musicians, photographers and writers into Scottish communities to work with vulnerable people like prisoners and people experiencing mental health issues or living with dementia.

“I’m delighted that proceeds from the performances and the book sales will go to supporting ongoing creative opportunities for children and adults across central Scotland.”

Director of the charity, Kevin Harrison, said: “Julia and her family will be acting out her stories and singing her songs in this hour long show for children, Julia Donaldson's Story Safari. The audience will be the first to hear from Julia’s new book with illustrator Axel Scheffler, which is inspired by Julia’s own safari experience in South Africa where she saw the big five animals – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos.”

There will be two performances at 11am and 3pm and each show will be followed by book sales and signings, also in aid of Artlink Central. Tickets, which include entrance to Blair Drummond Safari Park, are available at £22 for adults and £20 for concessions. (Safari Park members will pay £9 per ticket and £8.50 for children.)