More statues announced for art trail reunion
Further statues from previous Wild in Art trails in Ipswich, have been announced for St Elizabeth Hospice and Ipswich Borough Council’s Art Trail Reunion event taking place next month.
Announced in February, the St Elizabeth Hospice Art Trail Reunion will give fans of previous hospice and Wild in Art sculpture trails the chance to see familiar faces, snouts and trunks from Pigs Gone Wild 2016 and Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk 2019, as well as one or two new faces from the upcoming Big Hoot Ipswich 2022.
Taking place in the Town Hall and Corn Exchange, the free to attend event, already has 20 statues confirmed, kindly loaned by number of local companies and organisations, including Associated British Ports, Barnes Construction, Concertus Design and Property Consultants, East of England Co-op, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Hawk Express Cabs, Ipswich-East Suffolk Hockey Club, Homestyle UK Windows and Wyards Removals.
The special reunion weekend, will be held from 10am-4pm on 12th and 13th March, will also feature an array of ‘Hoot’ related activity, including street performances, children’s activities and special visits from artists working on this year’s trail.
Liz Baldwin, Corporate and Sponsorship Fundraising Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “We are delighted to see so many supporters of previous art trails kindly loaning their sculptures for this reunion event, which will really build excitement ahead of the Big Hoot Ipswich 2022 this summer.
“Both the hospice and Ipswich Borough Council cannot wait for the reunion in March and if you or your company or organisation are the proud owners of a previous art trail sculpture, and would like your statue to join us for the reunion weekend, then please do get in contact as we would love to feature as many as possible.”
Homestyle UK Windows’ St Edmund and Sir Loin Chop statues, will be attending the reunion event. Daniel Shemmings, Director at Homestyle UK Windows, said: “Our founder, Graham Shemmings, was passionate about supporting St Elizabeth Hospice and their previous Wild in Art trails. We want to continue this special relationship with St Elizabeth Hospice and we are so excited about the upcoming Big Hoot trail.
“We have St Edmund from the Elmer trail and Sir Loin Chop from the Pigs Gone Wild trail on display in our showroom and are happy to lend both to the Art Trail Reunion Weekend.”
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.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Travel Trunk Elmer statue will also be at the event. Peter Deer, Managing Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We are really excited to be involved in The Big Hoot this
summer, and the reunion will be a great way for us to celebrate our involvement and build anticipation for another really great trail.
“Travel Trunk has been raising awareness of St Elizabeth Hospice far and wide, having sailed to South America with us in early 2020. More recently, he has been on a tour of our Fred. Olsen Travel branches across Suffolk, and this will be the perfect way for him to end his latest adventure.”
Another company kindly loaning their sculpture, Puzzelmer, to the reunion weekend is Concertus Design and Property Consultants. Andrew Rowe, from Concertus Design and Property Consultants, said: “Pigs Gone Wild and Elmer’s Big Parade have done a tremendous job in raising awareness and vital funds for St Elizabeth Hospice over the years.
“We are thrilled to continue supporting such a worthwhile campaign by having Puzzelmer be part of the reunion. We’re also confident that the ‘Big Hoot’ will prove to be just as successful in promoting this truly worthwhile cause.”
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.
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.
