Background
To celebrate the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the London HQ (The Victoria, Victoria Westminster, Whitehall & Northbank BIDs) wanted to create a fun and impactful experience to bring together locals and tourists. OPS worked closely with the creative producers at We Are Placemaking to create an iconic art trail showcasing the Queen’s beloved corgis. Throughout her reign, the Queen owned more than 30 corgis and was the longest standing breeder in the Country.
The trail saw 19 uniquely painted giant corgis installed at various locations across London. Each corgi was designed by a different artist and named after the Queen’s dogs. Many local artists took part, and following the event, the corgis were auctioned off to raise money for charity.
Challenges
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The corgis were installed across 19 high profile locations in Central London, including public spaces, private land and highways. Each location had different access and arrival times and rules to adhere to. OPS led on stakeholder engagement maintaining open communication channels between all parties to manage expectations and facilitate a smooth install and derig.
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As the corgis were in situ for over a month, OPS were also required to liaise with Westminster City Council (WCC) to ensure the relevant permissions were in place. This involved extensive discussions with WWC Planning Department and – due to the significance of the event – WCC gave discretion to bypass the requirements for planning.
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Many of the corgis were situated in very busy areas of Central London with high footfall. OPS ensured workers and the public were kept safe by installing suitable and secure safe working areas while also ensuring all vehicles were escorted.
Delivery
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Stakeholder and Local Authority liaison
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On-Site H&S Manager for the build, live and break
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Event documentation – RA
Results
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High profile event with excellent feedback from London HQ and the public.
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Press coverage from Secret London, The Londonist, My London and many others.
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Money raised for charity though the corgi auction.
