North London Hospice’s brand-new sculpture trail, the Big Fun Art Adventure was officially launched by the Mayor of Haringey Lester Buxton and Mayor of Barnet Nagus Narenthira at a special event held at Jacksons Lane Theatre on Wednesday 27 September.
The Big Fun Art Adventure will take people on a journey of discovery through North London as they follow the trail of at least 60 beautiful and unique owl sculptures of various sizes, in summer 2024. The launch event saw the unveiling of Owlbert, the first sculpture of the trail.
Owls were chosen because they are known for their wisdom and for passing on stories through generations and across cultures. North London Hospice staff, like owls, also work through the night supporting patients and healthcare professionals.
The Big Fun Art Adventure is a free mass participation initiative, in partnership with world-renowned Wild in Art, will provide commissions for local, national, and international artists, to create a bespoke design for each sculpture, that will stand at over 5ft tall. Each owl will be sponsored by local firms and enjoyed by the whole community. Local schools and youth groups can also get involved, creating their own owl designs for smaller 3ft sculptures to be displayed at indoor venues across North London.
The venture, the first of its kind in North London, is a way for the charity to raise much-needed funds to meet its annual £15.9 million running costs. Sponsorship opportunities and an auction of each unique owl sculpture at the end of the initiative will provide money to support the hospice’s vital end of life care.
Speaking at the launch, Declan Carroll, Chief Executive of North London Hospice said: “Our Big Fun Art Adventure is a fantastic opportunity for us to bring our local community together whilst raising awareness and vital funds for North London Hospice. We look forward to working with our local community to showcase the wealth of talent and diversity that North London has to offer. The Big Fun Art Adventure is also a way to help people get to know their local area and have fun along the way. We look forward to seeing you on the trail in summer 2024!”
The Worshipful Mayor of Haringey Lester Buxton added that Owlbert was “impressive” and that he “can’t wait to do the trail.” The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet Nagus Narenthira described the trail as novel and highlighted the importance of the initiative for North London Hospice. “I think this will attract many people and raise a lot of money,” she said.
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder, Wild in Art said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with North London Hospice on this exciting sculpture trail. We hope that the owls will inspire businesses, the creative sector, and the wider community to come together to create something very special. It is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a highly visible, collaborative, and captivating project that makes everyone smile.”
The Big Fun Art Adventure will turn spaces into places for eight weeks during late summer 2024, providing a fun opportunity to bring the community together outside – from families and art lovers to dog walkers and runners.
Let’s get social
Visit the website BigFunArtAdventure.org and follow our dedicated Big Fun Art Adventure social media channels and join the conversation #BigFunArt
