Why a penguin?

Well, they’re cute, cool and have a strong sense of camaraderie. They have throughout history stood beside brave explorers such as yourself and accompanied them on their adventures, and for our purposes, this penguin leads an ever-growing community of nibblers and nurturers of new music.

This wide-eyed music and sound loving-penguin is also the iconic logo of Arctic Circle* a name and idea devised by Ben Eshmade and drawn by Damian O’Hara and Pika Pika. It was originally inspired by a radio show that was melded together on a distant hinterland, where sparse minimalism met orchestral otherness. 

From radio to real life, Arctic Circle was hatched under neon lights at the Southbank Gallery in 2006, and from its early days in the glamorous cellar of the Notting Hill Arts Club to the vertiginous ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Olympic Park, over two decades it has supported and championed over two thousand artists across innumerable events including its long-running Daylight Music series.

Arctic Circle, its penguin and Arctic inhabitants continue to evolve and grow, taking many different forms across many diverse spaces. Thank you for joining the circle, for joining our march together, and we hope to continue with you beside us on our expedition into new music for many more years to come.

*Yes we know there are no penguins in the real Arctic Circle, but go with it!