As part of Derby's seasonal celebrations, the city's Market Place will play host to a Christmas Playground from 7th December until 6th January.
Unique to Derby the ‘Christmas Playground' will feature giant wooden toy sculptures which will provide a play area for visitors to the city centre seeking a rest from Christmas shopping. Children will be encouraged to climb aboard the giant toys – carved by local wood sculptor Andrew Frost – and let their imagination run wild.
A first of its kind, the Playground will connect the community, the private and public sectors as well as local arts organisations through a unique attraction in the cultural heart of the city. This project has been created and led by Katapult, the Derby based marketing agency, in partnership with Arts Council England, Bombardier, Cathedral Quarter Derby, City Centre Management Derby, Derby City Council, Derby County Football Club, Derby Live, QUAD, Rolls-Royce plc, Royal Crown Derby, Royal Derby Hospital, Simon Foote Architects, Toyota and the University of Derby.
Children are invited to play an active role through workshops at QUAD, Derby's centre for art and film, they will be able to get involved in competitions and activities such as ‘Colour the soldier', ‘Name the bear' and making wooden decorations for the Christmas tree in The Market Place. The local community will benefit further once the Playground is removed from the Market Place in January when the toys will be relocated to the new Royal Derby Hospital for the enjoyment of patients and visitors.
