OMNi Celebrates 20 Years of Dreaming Spires with Local School & Creative Partners

To celebrate 20 years of the iconic Dreaming Spires giraffe sculptures which sit proudly outside OMNi, we teamed up with Scottish Sculptor Helen Denerley and Edinburgh Zoo for a bold creative initiative with St Mary’s RC Primary School.

P6 students took part in a design challenge titled Sustainable Safari: Guardians of Tomorrow, imagining a future where nature and people thrive together. The giraffes, Martha and Gilbert, featured prominently in the artwork, with designs showcasing clean energy, wildlife, and vibrant landscapes.

A wonderful 52 design entries were judged by OMNi's Eilidh Parker and Artist Helen Denerley. The crowning winner was proud student Nathan for their detailed giraffe illustration work, which included a jumping calf! Nathan's winning design will be animated and displayed on OMNi’s new internal digital screen following the centre’s refurbishment.

“Each design was outstanding,” said Eilidh Parker, OMNi Deputy Centre Manager. “This project reflects OMNi’s commitment to creativity, sustainability, and community.”

Nicola Kehoe, Head Teacher of St Mary’s RC Primary School, said:

“It’s been wonderful to work closely with OMNi on this exciting design project. The P6 students were inspired by Helen Denerley’s use of recycled materials and Edinburgh Zoo’s conservation work – and their individual take on this was reflected in the variety of designs created. The children are incredibly excited for their upcoming reward trip to Edinburgh Zoo, including a visit to OMNi’s adopted giraffe. The project has created a great start to the new term – combining creativity, fun, and learning for all.”

As a reward, students will visit Edinburgh Zoo to meet OMNi’s adopted giraffe and learn about conservation efforts led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). Read about how OMNi is supporting RZSS Wildlife Conservation efforts. 

Eilidh Parker, OMNi Deputy Centre Manager, said:

“We were blown away by the creative talent of the P6 students. Each and every design was truly terrific, and we cannot wait to see the winning design come to life on OMNi’s brand new internal digital screen as part of our centre refurbishment.

Special thanks to St Mary’s and our project partners Edinburgh Zoo and Helen Denerley. An inspiring collaboration, aligning beautifully with OMNi’s evolution towards a vibrant and welcoming destination firmly rooted into the local community.”

Celebrating 20 Years of an Icon

The school project brings OMNi’s Dreaming Spires anniversary celebrations to a triumphant close. Earlier this year, OMNi dressed its giraffe sculptures in tassel party hats and ran a four-week social media prize draw to engage the public and honour the landmark’s legacy.

Created in 2005 by Helen Denerley, the towering giraffes - crafted entirely from scrap metal - have become a beloved symbol of imagination, sustainability, and community spirit. They remain a natural meeting point for locals and visitors alike. Head over to our dedicated Dreaming Spires page to find out more.