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Nationwide sculpture trails brighten up the UK this summer


Public art events specialist Wild in Art is hosting 11 interactive art trails across the UK until mid-September, delivering a free cultural activity for families while also injecting £600,000 into creative communities and supporting local charities.

Locations for the art trails stretch from Southampton to Belfast, and they will feature 1,500 large and medium-sized animal sculptures, from giraffes to dinosaurs. There are up to 78 sculptures on display in each location and more than 750 artists have been involved in designing and decorating the brightly coloured beasts. An app helps people to spot and collect the sculptures, and unlock rewards.

Artists were commissioned to recreate several famous literary animals, including The Owl and Pussycat trail in Knowsley, inspired by the poem by Edward Lear; and Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail brings David McKee’s popular children’s character Elmer the Patchwork Elephant to life.

In Norwich, a number of workshops are taking place until the end of August to celebrate the dino-themed art trail GoGoDiscover – children will be encouraged to make giant collages and solve prehistoric-themed puzzles. As part of the Big Hoot in Ipswich, 40 owl sculptures, featuring designs celebrating all things Suffolk, will be scattered through the town.

In Hastings and Rother, there’s a scavenger hunt to find clues hidden on theFollow That Duck trail, and the winner will take home pantomime tickets to watch Beauty and the Beast at the White Rock Theatre.

On the Isle of Man, more than 70 uniquely designed dolphins have been positioned on a trail around the island, and keen swimmers may want to participate in the Big Swim fundraising challenge (swimming lengths of a pool on 3 and 4 September) in support of the regional hospice.

Each of the art trails will host a farewell event and auction, in which the animal sculptures are gathered together and photographed before being bid on. The funding raised from the auction will go towards supporting a local hospice or charity.

The art trails are located in Belfast, Salford, Ipswich, Hastings and Rother, Isle of Man, Norwich and Norfolk, Edinburgh, Kirklees, Winchester and Southampton, Cambridge, and Knowsley.

For more details, see wildinart.co.uk.



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