It is believed that every community has a giant slumbering in the landscape and that each one can simply be 'woken up' by creating a body for them to inhabit.

The Giants are born of much interaction with the people of the communities in which they will live. Strange Cargo holds an initial 'awareness day' and invites people to come and put forward ideas for the Giant's character, based on local myths and legends and the history of the town they live in, all of which informs the Giant's appearance and personality. Following the awareness day, the team begin to build the Giant in residence in the community. Open days are held where people come along and try their hand at Giant-making techniques and other fun activities, including suggesting a name for the Giant. During the whole process Strange Cargo often has trainee artists and volunteers from the community working alongside the Giant team. When the Giant is finished, he or she is named and 'awoken' in a special ceremony. A Giant Association is set up to look after and manage the Giant's social diary.

The Giants are an immensely powerful tool in encouraging communication and involvement, not just between towns in the UK, but also across international borders. Giants visit carnivals, festivals, fetes and parades in the UK and in Europe with their Associations, fostering links between communities and a sense of pride in their own home town.

Many of the Giants have formed strong international bonds, creating sustainable opportunities for cross border cultural interaction, which is extremely beneficial. To see the Giants Slideshow click here.