A giant ark which will act as an artistic exhibition and performance space is taking shape.

The wooden, landlocked craft will be the centrepiece of Oxford’s Ciao! Festival – a children’s celebration planned for the end of June.

The event is designed to link art and science and focus on the theme of sailing away to a greener – low-carbon – future.

Workshops have been held in schools across the county to bring scientists and artists together to work with children on ideas for performances and exhibitions in, on and around the ark.

The boat will be installed on the front lawn of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in Parks Road, from June 23-27.

Ark designer Nomi Everall has been fitting out the interior, as well as cladding and decorating the structure.

She said: “The size of it is really quite extraordinary.

“When you sit down and draw a picture you cannot imagine how big the real thing is going to be.

“It is like having a building to work on.

“It will look really impressive, and I can’t wait to move it to the museum and see the whole thing coming together.”

The two-storey structure is too large to be fully assembled in the Old Bookbinders arts space, in Green Street, East Oxford, where it is currently being worked on.

The finishing touches will be applied when it moves to the museum lawn.

The ark stands about 6m high, and measures 11.5m long by 7.5m wide.

Work began on the ark earlier this year in Hook Norton, near Banbury. It took four trips to get all the pieces to Oxford.

Ms Everall said: “Talking to the various artists working with the school groups is fantastic. It is really exciting to see what the children will make that will bring the place to life.”

A number of community workshops have also been held offering people the chance to get involved.

Artistic director Karen Draisey said: “We are on the final countdown. We have lots of exciting artwork that the children have created and we are sorting out the logistics of how it will be installed.

“It’s such an exciting project because of the community support and the involvement of so many people.”

For more information on the festival, visit ciaofestival.org.uk