Visually Impaired Artist Designs Braille-Inscribed Nutcracker Statues for York Trail

Marc Godfrey-Murphy, an artist with a visual impairment, has created sculptures featuring Braille inscriptions for a Christmas trail in York. His 10 Nutcracker statues are set to be exhibited across the city as part of the Christmas Around the World-themed event. Each of these characters pays tribute to a distinct country, symbolizing York’s diverse communities. Mr. Godfrey-Murphy made certain of their accessibility by engraving the name of each country onto the collar of its respective statue. The artist commented: “A lot of love and invention has gone into it.” York BID is responsible for organizing the annual Nutcracker Trail. Mr. Godfrey-Murphy, whose illustration studio is located in York, further stated: “I wanted to offer something to help the people in our city who might be blind or live with severe visual impairments to engage with the trail too.” He also remarked: “It is one of the most joyful projects I have ever had the privilege to work on.” Previously, Mr. Godfrey-Murphy served as an animator for well-known CBeebies programs, including Numberblocks and Tree Fu Tom. The development of the trail incorporated suggestions from Our City Hub, a community organization dedicated to assisting refugees in settling into York. This group proposed that each sculpture be adorned with the colors of a country’s flag and feature designs depicting its renowned landmarks. Rachel Bean, project manager for York BID, stated: “This project is all about celebrating togetherness and the wonderful communities that call York home.“ She added: “We hope everyone enjoys finding the statues around the city.” On Thursday, it was discovered that one of the 10 figures had gone missing from its designated spot at Barley Hall. Organizers reported that the absent nutcracker, which symbolized Great Britain, was subsequently located “slightly shaken” but intact, having been discarded on a street. The trail is scheduled to continue until 1 January, and maps can be obtained either online or at the visitor information centre situated on Parliament Street.