MARGATE .- Today, Turner Contemporary launched their first online fundraising campaign via Art Happens, Art Fund’s crowdfunding platform.

The gallery are asking donors to be at the heart of an exciting new project: to raise £15,000 and enable them to bring a life sized polar bear puppet, ‘Paula the Polar Bear’, to Margate sands this summer. The project will get thousands of people talking about climate change as part of their summer exhibition, Animals & Us . If the money is raised, ‘Paula the Polar Bear’ will roam through the town and across the beach throughout the summer season.

The Art Happens campaign will last for 4 weeks and the project will only be realised if the gallery is successful in raising £15,000. Donations can be made from as little as £5 and there are a number of enticing rewards on offer in return for your support. Turner Contemporary has worked with Margate based artist, Sprankenstein to create a limited edition canvas bag and an exclusive print.

Other rewards include:

• A curator led tour of their summer exhibition, Animals & Us

• A unique set of postcards

• A puppeteering workshop

• An afterhours tour of the exhibition, Animals & Us for you and a group of friends followed by a drinks reception

Make a donation via the following link: https://www.artfund.org/get-involved/arthappens/paula-bear#details

Because of the loss of their sea ice habitat resulting from climate change, polar bears are listed as a threatened species. Paula the Polar Bear has already travelled to Washington DC, Finland and Auckland to raise awareness of environmental issues. She is on loan from Greenpeace UK.

With Margate's beach as the backdrop, Paula the Polar Bear will provide incredible photo opportunities, surprise visitors to Margate and encourage thought provoking conversations about how humans can better co-exist with animals. Professional puppeteers will train local performers to work with Paula throughout the summer, creating new opportunities and employment. Turner Contemporary navigators will accompany Paula, breaking the ice with conversation starters about climate change. It will be the first - and possibly last! - time that a Polar Bear has been seen in Margate.