A much-awaited public art trail featuring a rainbow huddle of penguin sculptures has been launched in Worcester.
The great Waddle of Worcester began on Monday, July 22 and will finish on Sunday, September 15.
A Wild in Art event, the eight-week showcase is being brought to the city by St Richard’s Hospice in its fortieth year.
Eighty individually designed sculptures and one digital art installation is on show through the city’s streets and open spaces, forming a trail approximately five-miles long.
The trail is raising funds for the hospice’s care of patients living with an illness that cannot be cured and their loved ones in Worcestershire. It follows the charity’s hugely successful elephant and giraffe trails in 2018 and 2021 which, combined, raised more than £700,000 for St Richard’s after costs.
Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager for St Richard’s, said: “We are so excited to be bringing our third trail to Worcester and can’t wait to see families, friends and colleagues waddling with us this summer!
“No creature captures the spirit of St Richard’s Hospice better than these beautiful birds who are always looking out for their neighbour. We want our community to know that, just like the penguin, our huddle is here for those with an illness that cannot be cured and their loved ones experiencing grief. Together we can weather the storm.”
Of the 80 sculptures, 40 large penguins have been designed by artists and sponsored by organisations from across the county and beyond.
There are 40 smaller chick sculptures which have been decorated by schools and community groups and are on show in city centre shop windows and Crowngate Shopping Centre.
A digital art installation in the city will shine a light on the ways hospices give to their local communities. Just as penguins give pebbles as a token of love, the public will have the opportunity to create their own unique piece of pebble artwork, upload it to the activation website and then visit Crowngate Shopping Centre to see it brought to life in a unique magical way.
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art, said: “The great Waddle of Worcester is another wonderful opportunity to bring business, artists, schools and communities together through the power of creativity.
“We hope everyone has a flippin’ fantastic time discovering dazzlingly designed penguins and sharing the stories that inspired each work of art – and which may well inspire local artists of the future!”
Trail maps – sponsored by Blue Print Direct Mail – are available from Worcester Tourist Information Centre, St Richard’s Hospice shops and the trail’s pop-up shop at 14 Chapel Walk, Crowngate Shopping Centre. Sticker books, official merchandise and penguin-themed goodies lovingly handcrafted by hospice supporters, are also available at the pop-up shop.
There is also an app for the trail – sponsored by local healthcare manufacturer Kimal – which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for £1.99.
The app allows visitors to the trail to track their progress as they walk the route, discovering the happy huddle and facts about the city along the way.
Once the trail has ended, there will be a final chance to see all 80 sculptures together at farewell events at Worcestershire County Cricket Club on Friday 4 October – Sunday 6 October and again from Friday 11 October – Sunday 13 October 2024. Tickets for farewell events are on sale at: https://waddleofworcester.co.uk/events/farewell/. The large penguins, and one special chick, will be auctioned to raise funds for St Richard’s later in October.
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.
You can follow the great Waddle of Worcester at: https://www.facebook.com/WaddleOfWorcester/, https://twitter.com/WaddleOfWorc and https://www.Instagram.com/WaddleOfWorcester
While all 40 large penguins have now been snapped up, some sponsorship opportunities remain. To play a part in the great Waddle of Worcester call Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager, on 01905 763963, or email [email protected]
Join the huddle
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, call Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager, on 01905 763963, or email [email protected]
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