GTG is always delighted to share opportunities for artists in Northern Ireland and this one is mammoth! Next summer, Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail will bring David McKee’s popular children’s character Elmer the Patchwork Elephant to life across Belfast and Northern Ireland, with a herd of at least 60 uniquely decorated, amazingly creative, elephant sculptures located at key landmarks around Belfast City. An audience of over one million people will see and interact with the trail.
Artists are now invited to submit their designs for an Elmer Art Trail elephant sculpture, in any form – traditional to new media, fine art to illustration, graffiti and mosaic – by midnight on Monday 10th January 2022. For full details, download an artists pack here.
Golden Thread Gallery also has a limited number of printed Artist Packs available for collection from the Gallery.
Submitted designs will be shortlisted by a panel of experts, and then displayed at a sponsors’ exhibition, where the sponsors will have the chance to choose their design. If your design is selected by a sponsor, you will be asked to transfer it onto a full-size Elmer sculpture between February and March 2022.
Commissioned artists will receive a fee on completion of their sculpture, with the artist names featured on the sculpture plaques, trail website, in the app and in key publications such as the map and souvenir guide. Artists will also have an opportunity to have a free stall at the Elmer Farewell Weekend to sell their products.
The commissioned sculptures will be part of the trail in Belfast throughout Summer 2022, and then tour NI, visiting Ballymena, Derry/Londonderry, Newry and Enniskillen before returning to Belfast for a big farewell event.
The Elmers will finally be auctioned off to raise funds for the Northern Ireland Hospice, to support local people and their families with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses.
Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail is a collaboration between Northern Ireland Hospice, Wild in Art and Andersen Press.
If you have any questions, please contact the Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail team at NI Hospice:
Lauren Doherty, Head of Commercial Marketing 02890 777123 / [email protected]