Hospice and Ipswich Borough Council to host art trail reunion!
Fans of St Elizabeth Hospice’s Wild in Art sculpture trails are in for a real treat this March, as the independent Suffolk charity and Ipswich Borough Council will be hosting the St Elizabeth Hospice Art Trail Reunion.
Taking place in the Town Hall and Corn Exchange, the free to attend event will give trail enthusiasts the opportunity to see familiar faces from past hospice art trails in Ipswich, as a number of sculptures from Pigs Gone Wild 2016 and Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk 2019 will be on display.
The Council and the hospice are very grateful to a growing number of organisations that are committing to loan their pigs and / or elephants purchased at the end of trail auctions for the reunion event, including Associated British Ports, Concertus, East of England Co-op, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Wyards Removals and Homestyle UK Windows.
The special reunion weekend, taking place from 10am-4pm on 12th and 13th March, will also generate further excitement ahead of the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022, with an array of ‘Hoot’ related activity being held throughout the weekend, including street performances, children’s activities and special visits from artists working on this year’s trail.
Councillor Sarah Barber, Portfolio Holder for the Town Centre, said: “I loved Pigs Gone Wild and Elmer’s Big Parade and I am sure that a reunion of dozens of sculptures from those trails will be a great way for families to revisit memories from those summers and to build excitement for the Big Hoot. I am delighted we are working with the hospice to deliver this new and exciting event next month.”
The Big Hoot Ipswich 2022 is the third art trail brought to Ipswich by St Elizabeth Hospice in partnership with creative producers Wild in Art, following the success of Pigs Gone Wild 2016 and Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk 2019.
As part of the Big Hoot 2022, 50 ornately decorated owl sculptures, featuring designs celebrating all things Suffolk, will be scattered throughout Ipswich, between 19th June and 3rd September, as part of the biggest free art event in Suffolk which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town.
Organised in partnership with St Elizabeth Hospice and Ipswich Borough Council, the St Elizabeth Hospice Art Trail Reunion is being funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme.
Celia Joseph, community relationships fundraising manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, added: “With the days to the launch of the Big Hoot 2022 Ipswich quickly disappearing, our excitement is really building!
“As a result, thanks to Ipswich Borough Council, we will be hosting this extra special reunion event for all fans of our past trails to enjoy and help get them in the mood for the Big Hoot with an opportunity to see our Hoot to Suffolk ready for the Big Hoot trail which is just around the corner.
“We have a number of past sculptures confirmed to attend the St Elizabeth Hospice Art Trail Reunion but if you or your company or organisation are the proud owners of a previous hospice art trail sculpture and would like your statue to be included, please do get in contact as we would love to feature as many as possible.”
Associated British Ports (ABP), who alongside Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council are presenting partners for the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022, will be loaning sculptures for the event.
Paul Ager, Divisional Port Manager at ABP said: “We are really proud to support the St Elizabeth Hospice’s sculpture trail each year and this is yet another great initiative. ABP is delighted to be involved. We will be loaning our three sculptures for the reunion which promises to be a spectacular community event. I’d encourage any local organisation that has a sculpture to get on board and loan theirs.”
To contact the team about having your art trail statue displayed in the St Elizabeth Hospice Art Trail Reunion please contact thebighoot@stelizabethhospice.org.uk
For more information about the Big Hoot 2022 and to keep up to date with the St Elizabeth Hospice Art Trail Reunion go to thebighoot.co.uk.
