The Great Elephant Migration Arrives in Livermore, CA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE GREAT ELEPHANT MIGRATION ARRIVES IN LIVERMORE, CA
A herd of life-size Indian elephant sculptures brings a global story of human-wildlife coexistence to the East Bay of San Francisco
Free and Open to the Public
October 10 - December 6 in Downtown Livermore at Bankhead Plaza and Stockmen’s Park
High-resolution product imagery and the official social media kit are available in the GEM Livermore Media Kit.
Livermore, CA {date} This Fall, the City of Livermore welcomes The Great Elephant Migration, a global public art and fundraising initiative using the power of creativity and storytelling to inspire people to share space with wildlife.
From Saturday, October 10 through Sunday, December 6 a herd of 30 life-size Indian elephant sculptures will be on view in front of Bankhead Theater and at nearby Stockmen’s Park. The exhibition is hosted by nonprofit arts organizations Livermore Valley Arts and Three Thirty-Three Arts, with support from The City of Livermore, Jean King, and Visit Tri-Valley.
While Livermore is widely celebrated for its historic wine country, science, and technology, this autumn it will also become a hub for discussion on global conservation through this public art experience. The Great Elephant Migration - the herd's only stop on the West Coast in 2026 and its first visit to the San Francisco Bay Area - bridges the community's deep-rooted spirit of land stewardship with an international message of human-wildlife coexistence. Bringing this free, eight-week installation to Downtown Livermore makes world-class art accessible, sparks environmental conversations, and inspires local families and students. While the exhibition is expected to increase downtown foot traffic and put an international spotlight on the City of Livermore, its purpose is to deepen the community's connection to the natural world. This cultural experience and its programs are made possible entirely through the generosity of local sponsors, individual donors, and community partners who share a vision for an interconnected Tri-Valley.
To learn more about the exhibition, view local programming details, or make a tax-deductible donation to support this public art project, visit Three Thirty-Three Arts or Livermore Valley Arts.
“The Great Elephant Migration is a powerful example of how art can create connections to culture, conservation and our shared world,” said Anne Giancola, Visual Arts and Education Manager for Livermore Valley Arts. “Livermore Valley Arts is proud to be part of creating those connections - bringing an extraordinary artistic experience to our community while inviting people to think more deeply about our relationship with the natural world and the importance of protecting it.”
“We are honored to partner with Livermore Valley Arts to host this incredible exhibit,” said Tari Loring, Chief Operating Officer of Three Thirty-Three Arts. “Paving the way for free, accessible public art experiences is at the very core of why our organization exists. Welcoming the Great Elephant Migration to Downtown Livermore provides an unforgettable cultural offering that will spark wonder and leave a lasting positive impact across the region and beyond.”
"This temporary installation is truly unique. It has fired the imaginations throughout our community."
- City of Livermore Mayor, John Marchand
“Bringing the Great Elephant Migration to California gives our communities a unique opportunity to experience art while connecting with a global message of conservation and coexistence,” said Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan. “I’m proud to welcome this exhibition to Livermore and look forward to seeing it enjoyed throughout the Tri-Valley and East Bay.”
About the Herd
Each sculpture is a faithful replica of a real wild elephant, known by name and personality to the people of the Nilgiri Hills in southern India, where elephants and people share one of the world’s most densely populated landscapes.
The elephants are handcrafted from Lantana camara by Indigenous artisans of The Real Elephant Collective from the Bettakurumba, Paniya, Kattunayakan and Soliga communities. The invasive plant has overtaken vast areas of India’s forests, displacing wildlife from its natural habitat. By transforming lantana into sculpture, the project supports Indigenous livelihoods while contributing to forest restoration.
The Great Elephant Migration carries a simple idea across the world: people and wildlife can share space. The project draws inspiration from Indigenous communities in India that have lived alongside wild elephants for generations.
Art With Impact
Since 2024, The Great Elephant Migration has granted more than $1.4 million to coexistence projects supporting communities living alongside elephants, lions, tigers, buffalo, grizzly bears, and other wildlife.
Funds generated through the Migration support Indigenous-led and community-based conservation, sustainable livelihoods, habitat restoration, and projects that help people and wildlife coexist.
Local Events & Programming
There are some exciting celebrations in the works during the exhibition period. More information to come. For the latest event updates, please visit - 333arts.org/gem.
About The Great Elephant Migration
The Great Elephant Migration is a global public art and fundraising initiative bringing a herd of life-size Indian elephant sculptures to communities around the world to amplify Indigenous knowledge and inspire the human race to share space.
Each elephant is based on a real wild elephant living in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India and is created by Indigenous artisans of The Real Elephant Collective. Through public art and storytelling, the Migration raises awareness and funding for projects that support human-wildlife coexistence around the world.
Follow the herd: @greatelephantmigration
The Great Elephant Migration: thegreatelephantmigration.org
The Great Elephant Migration: A Family Gathering
30 elephants. A new chapter of The Great Elephant Migration.
The Great Elephant Migration: A Family Gathering is an intimate iteration of The Great Elephant Migration, bringing a smaller herd to communities, gardens and cultural spaces that may not be able to accommodate the full exhibition. It carries the same spirit and purpose of the flagship exhibition, while offering a nimbler format that allows the elephants to travel to new places and reach new audiences.
Livermore marks an exciting new chapter in the herd’s journey. For two months, 30 elephants will make their home in the Tri-Valley area inviting the community to encounter the sculptures at a more intimate scale while discovering the powerful story of coexistence behind them.
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About The Real Elephant Collective
The Real Elephant Collective is an Indigenous-led enterprise of artisans from the Bettakurumba, Paniya, Kattunayakan and Soliga communities of India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Drawing on generations of knowledge from living alongside wildlife, the artisans create sculptural replicas of the wild elephants they share their landscape with.
About Livermore Valley Arts
Livermore Valley Arts (LVA), formally the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, is a nonprofit serving the Tri-Valley through the Bankhead Theater and the Bothwell Arts Center, home to ten resident performing arts companies. Throughout the year, LVA produces performances and visual arts exhibitions, along with arts education programming. Learn more at livermorearts.org.
About Three Thirty-Three Arts
Three Thirty-Three Arts (333Arts) is a 501(c)(3) arts organization that specializes in public art programming, community activations, artist mentorship, and arts advocacy. The organization partners with municipalities and other nonprofit organizations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more at 333arts.org.
Media Contact:
Sage Loring
Executive Director, Three Thirty-Three Arts
Email: sage@333arts.org
Phone: 714-822-8470