Putting on your 'Sunday Best' for a winning design

To celebrate it’s first ever visit to Stoke-on-Trent, Elephant Parade are launching the “Sunday Best” competition, in recognition of the region’s title as the ‘World Capital of Ceramics’. The winning design will receive a 30cm Elephant Parade replica of the original “Sunday Best” designed by Artist, Anna Masters worth £250.

Elephant Parade has become well known for referencing famous people and global landmarks as some of its most memorable designs from around the world, the Elephant Parade UK Tour 2013/14 has also enabled the parade to celebrate the unique richness and individuality of the different regions around the UK. The Stoke designs will sit alongside the striking designs from the recent Commonwealth Competitions from Braehead and the Robin Hood designs from Nottingham.  

The search for the best design will also be watched closely by one of the current UK tour artist, Anna Masters, whose full size elephant statue “Sunday Best” can be seen at Stoke. Her inspiration for the design came from the best porcelain that her mother would bring out on Sundays when her Nan came to tea. Anna also has strong ties with the area, having studied at Stoke University and has many friends living in the area. 

Anna commented “This is such a fantastic competition and it’s a way that people can engage with the parade in their own unique and personal way. For me, the parade has not only provided an opportunity for the public to engage with the topic of the conservation of elephants but has also allowed for people to integrate with art who wouldn’t necessarily want to walk into an art gallery."

The deadline for entry ideas is Monday 7^th April. People can download an A4 design template from the tour website (www.intuelephantparade.co.uk) or they can pop along to the Elephant Parade shops at Intu Potteries where they can design an A4 idea for free, or purchase an art box and paint their design on a 15cm blank elephant.