Schools across Leeds have been making the most of the Christmas season to kick-start their fundraising for Leeds Bear Hunt, an exciting public art event which will take place in Summer 2023 and raise money for Leeds Children’s Hospital.
Leeds Bear Hunt will see Leeds Hospitals Charity team up with art trail experts Wild in Art and is set to be the ‘swishiest, sploshiest, squelchiest’ trail ever. Around 40 giant Bear sculptures will hide in plain sight on the streets of Leeds for ten weeks. Decorated by local and national artists, designers and illustrators, the Bears will form a family-friendly trail for visitors to discover and enjoy.
The sensational art trail will be a real treat for families. Leeds Hospitals Charity is also running the Leeds Bear Hunt Schools Programme to challenge and inspire future artists, designers, and creative minds. Schools, colleges, and nurseries can get involved by signing up for a Bear Cub and pledging to raise a minimum of £750 + VAT for Leeds Hospitals Charity. In return, they will receive their own mini sculpture for children to adopt and design, and a whole range of creative learning activities. To add further creative sparkle, local school children have already been designing and making beautiful decorations to sell at Christmas fairs and holding festive dress down days to raise money to adopt their Bear Cubs.
Jamie Chapman, Deputy Headteacher at Meanwood Church of England Primary School said:
“We are thrilled to be involved in this fantastic public event which will benefit the whole community. All our pupils, teachers and parents are supporting our drive to adopt our own sculpture and we are launching a competition to name our Bear Cub for a small donation. The children are already brimming with design ideas. It will mean so much to our children to be able to see their Bear Cub on display next Summer as part of this huge art trail.”
Why Bears? Leeds Hospitals Charity is working in partnership with Walker Productions/Lupus Films, the production team behind the stunning animation based on the best-selling children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, published by Walker Books. The Bear sculptures are inspired by the Bear from the award-winning TV animation and have been commissioned and created just for Leeds.
Over the last 30 years, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt has enchanted children and parents alike with its story of perseverance, optimism and a love of nature, selling over 14 million books worldwide in 42 languages. Author Michael Rosen’s retelling of this classic picture book has exceeded over 16 million views on YouTube.
The message of this wonderful story is about how we deal with our fears. This is reflected in the experience of many children in hospital, who might fear the unknown, or possibly the knowledge of what is to come. With the money raised by Leeds Bear Hunt, we hope to create a Leeds Children’s Hospital that is a welcoming and reassuring place, with a hospital team that is equipped to support children and families facing their own “Bear”.
Successful Wild in Art trails in Manchester, Plymouth and the North East saw huge benefits for the local economy in the past few years. An Art Trail delivered by Wild in Art in Newcastle and surrounding areas brought in over 650,000 visitors, whilst Manchester’s Bee in the City trail provided an economic boost of over £10 million.
Esther Wakeman, Chief Executive of Leeds Hospitals Charity said:
“As well as creating an event that gets people excited, Leeds Bear Hunt will raise vital money to help Leeds Children’s Hospital provide the best care possible for very ill babies and children in a comfortable and welcoming environment.”
The main sculptures will be auctioned off to raise money for Leeds Hospitals Charity to support Leeds Children’s Hospital in September 2023. To give a Bear Cub a home, please sign up at www.leedsbearhunt.co.uk/schools or contact schools@leedsbearhunt.co.uk
If you represent a business, college or local community group and want to be involved, or are interested in finding out more, visit: www.leedsbearhunt.co.uk #LeedsBearHunt
