St Elizabeth Hospice is calling on young artists to get creative this summer holiday ahead of the Big Hoot 2022, by encouraging them to enter their own coloured hoots into a competition to win a family VIP ticket to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary.
Open to all, aged 16-years-old and younger, the Big Hoot Colouring Competition requires entrants to colour in and create their own unique designs on Big Hoot stencils, downloadable from the Big Hoot website.
Taking place until 6pm on 31st August, the competition requires entrants’ guardians to enter by either posting a photo on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, using the hashtag #thebighoot or send their entry by email to thebighoot@stelizabethhospice.org.uk.
Representatives from the hospice and Suffolk Owl Sanctuary will form a judging panel. Results of the competition will be announced 6th September, with the winning entry receiving a family VIP ticket to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, who are also sponsoring the Big Hoot 2022, while the runners up will receive a Big Hoot merchandise pack.
Celia Joseph, Community Relationships Fundraising Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “The whole hospice team is really excited about the Big Hoot 2022 and we have been blown away by the support of local business and the community with the trail already.
“With all the enthusiasm that has been shown to date, we decided to host the Big Hoot Colouring Competition, alongside the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, as it would be a great summer activity for children to take part in and get their creativity going ready for next year.
“The winners will have a hoot of a time with this fantastic owl themed prize for the winning entry, courtesy of the sanctuary, plus two best in age groups will get an owltastic goody bag”
The Big Hoot 2022 is the latest art trail to be held in Ipswich by St Elizabeth Hospice in partnership with creative producers, Wild in Art.
As part of the Big Hoot 2022, between June and September next year, 40 ornately decorated owl sculptures, featuring designs celebrating all things Suffolk, will be scattered throughout Ipswich showcasing the wealth of artistic talent of the county and beyond, as part of the biggest free art event in Suffolk which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town.
Also, this summer the hospice is hosting a ‘Hoots on Tour’ for the summer holidays. Currently the already painted, first ‘Big Hoot’ – A Hoot to Suffolk by Suffolk artist Angie Ashford, can be found at Ipswich Museum before it takes flight to The Hold in August. While a blank Big Hoot will be in residence at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary all summer for visitors to enjoy and get their creative juices following for the colouring competition.
Chris Astridge, Director at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, added: “Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is very happy to be associated with this fundraising initiative in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice.
“The ‘owl’ theme of the 2022 project presents a symbiotic relationship which, in having one of its giant unpainted owl sculptures on display at the Sanctuary through the summer months, provides a wonderful opportunity to promote all aspects of sympathetic care and respect for life which is central to the causes of both charities.”
To download the Big Hoot colouring competition design visit www.thebighoot.co.uk/colouring-competition/ or for more information about the Big Hoot 2022 go to thebighoot.co.uk.