Museum renovation project turns construction site into public art gallery

The big picture: A partnership between the museum and Gipping Construction has turned construction hoarding into a canvas for local artists, featuring interpretations of the museum's beloved exhibits, Wool-I-Am the mammoth and Rosie the Rhino.

By the numbers:

• 9 individual winners and highly commended artists

• 4 winning school groups

• 5 age categories

• Ages ranging from 4 to 41 years old

Behind the scenes: Museum staff selected the first prize winners, while Gipping Construction staff chose highly commended entries. Nick Maslin, Gipping Construction's Site Manager, and Peter Garwood from the museum presented winners with plush woolly mammoth prizes.

School success: Winners included:

• Harriers, Sidegate Primary School Special Educational Unit (SEND provision)

• Class 1CD, Broke Hall Primary School (Key Stage 1)

• Class 3W, Heath Primary School, Kesgrave (Lower Key Stage 2)

• Mrs Cutler's Year 5 Class, Morland VA Primary School (Upper Key Stage 2)

Individual achievements:

• Under-fives winner: Sienna, age 4

• Five to seven winner: Florence, age 6

• Eight to ten winner: Hazel, age 10

• Eleven to thirteen winner: Summer, age 11

• Eighteen plus winner: Pascale, age 41

Bottom line: The Mammoth Art Competition has brought a splash of creativity to Ipswich town centre, while keeping the community connected with one of its most important cultural institutions during ongoing renovation work.