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Ipswich Building Society partners up with Pigs Gone Wild, Suffolk’s biggest ever public art event

27 August 2015

Ipswich Building Society has been announced as the official Community Engagement Partner for Suffolk’s biggest ever mass participation, public art event – Pigs Gone Wild.

 

The exciting project will see around 40 pig sculptures set out on a trail around Ipswich and the Waterfront next summer in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice.

 

As Community Engagement Partner for Pigs Gone Wild, Ipswich Building Society will work the project’s Education Partner to support school outreach, delivering financial education in a fun and engaging way to local youngsters. This follows on from the success of the Society’s existing Money Day and Money Metrics programmes which has seen them spend over 3,000 hours in local classrooms.

 

The nine Suffolk branches of Ipswich Building Society will also be involved in the project by hosting trail maps and housing junior pigs. Ipswich Building Society members will have access to exclusive Pigs Gone Wild events as part of All In, the Society’s industry leading membership programme.

 

Norman Lloyd, the hospice’s special projects manager, said: “Ipswich Building Society is a company with very deep roots in Ipswich, having been founded in 1849, and are very active in the local community, so we are thrilled to have them as a partner.

 

“They are already big supporters of the hospice and have raised thousands of pounds in the last few years through their We-Care affinity account, and we’re very grateful that they want to continue their support by generously becoming our partner on this exciting new project.”

 

Paul Winter, Chief Executive of Ipswich Building Society, added: “Pigs Gone Wild will add a bit of fun and extra colour to Ipswich and will help to raise vital funds for St Elizabeth Hospice which does fantastic work in improving the lives of people living with progressive illnesses across East Suffolk and South Norfolk.  We’re proud to be a part of the event and will work closely with the hospice and other event partners to make it a success.

 

“I am sure the sculpture trail will follow in the footsteps of similar projects in Norwich and Colchester and help to showcase the rich heritage and wonderful variety of our town, bringing new people to Ipswich and making it a go-to destination for summer 2016.”

 

The pig sculptures will be beautifully decorated by artists and generously sponsored by local organisations. These will also be joined on the trail by junior pig sculptures designed by local schoolchildren and teachers.

 

After the 10-week extravaganza, the large pigs will be auctioned off to raise funds for St Elizabeth Hospice, helping to provide vital care and support to people living with a progressive illness and their families.

 

If you would like to design or sponsor a pig or just want to find out more, visit www.pigsgonewild.co.uk or call 01473 723600.

 

Wild in Art is one of the country’s top creative producers of high-impact, public art exhibitions, featuring large-scale, individually designed and decorated ‘animal’ sculptures. They recently worked with Norfolk charity, Break, to stage GoGoGorillas! in Norwich, which was very successful and brought thousands of visitors to the city.

 

Pigs Gone Wild is supported by media partners East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich Star and presenting partner Town 102.