Waddle of Worcester penguins, Spirit and Hoiho, were designed by Birmingham-based artist Jess Perrin
Artists are being offered the chance to transform a special type of blank canvas as Worcester gears up for its third major public art trail in summer 2024.
St Richard’s Hospice will bring 40 beautifully decorated penguin sculptures to the city’s streets and public places next summer, forming the great Waddle of Worcester. The Wild in Art event follows on from hugely successful giraffe and elephant trails in 2018 and 2021, also led by the Worcestershire-based charity.
Currently, each sculpture is naked – but, with the help of artists from across the country, they will be transformed with dazzling designs.
By involving the local arts and culture sectors in this exciting event, St Richard’s and Wild in Art hope to create another visually stunning art trail which will raise money for hospice care and bring people into the city for days out.
Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager for St Richard’s, said: “We’re so excited to be hosting our third art trail in the city next summer.
“Local residents will remember the buzz that the giraffes and elephants brought with them and we can’t wait to see everyone out exploring our wonderful city again.
“It’s also a brrr-illiant opportunity for our partners and sponsors to showcase their work and part they play in Worcestershire life. Working together we’re determined to make the great Waddle of Worcester a lasting memory for the whole community.”
All segments of the creative community can submit penguin designs – from established artists, to those who are, as yet, undiscovered.
The penguin sculpture is a three-dimensional canvas and will hold a wide range of media – from graffiti to mosaic, fine art and even metalwork.
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director of Wild in Art, added: “This is an exceptional opportunity for you to help the great Waddle of Worcester transform the city into a fun, free art gallery once again and have thousands of people enjoy your creativity, while raising valuable funds for a fantastic cause.
“With local artists on board, we look forward to a very special creative showcase.”
Artists can enter up to three designs by filling in a submission form which is available via the Worcester’s Big Parade website at: https://waddleofworcester.co.uk/artists/
Designs must be submitted by 8 January 2024.
Entries will be whittled down to the final selection in January and the chosen artists will each be given a penguin to decorate between March and May 2024. Each selected artist will be awarded a commission of £900.
The trail will run from Monday 22 July until Sunday 15 September.
In October 2024 each penguin will be auctioned off to raise funds for the care provided by St Richard’s Hospice to patients living with a serious progressive illness and their loved ones.
Each sculpture will be funded by companies and individuals from around the county.
The penguins will be joined by 40 chicks – smaller, but crafted just as creatively, by students and teachers in local schools. The baby penguins will be displayed within Crowngate Shopping Centre and in local businesses in the city during the eight-week trail.
The great Waddle of Worcester is supported by Presenting Partners; Crowngate, DRPG, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire Ambassadors, Community and Education Partner; Worcester BID and Media Partners; the Worcester News and BBC Hereford & Worcester.
A couple of large penguins are still available for sponsorship. To get involved call Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager, on 01905 763963, or email [email protected].
You can follow the great Waddle of Worcester at: https://www.facebook.com/WaddleOfWorcester/, https://twitter.com/WaddleOfWorc and https://www.Instagram.com/WaddleOfWorcester.
To find out more, visit www.waddleofworcester.co.uk.
