The First Minister today launches the world’s first nationwide public art trail. Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail will take place in Scotland in Summer 2019 supporting children’s hospital charities and celebrating Scotland’s favourite son, Oor Wullie.
Supported by DC Thomson Media, custodians of Oor Wullie, Scotland’s three children’s hospital charities (Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, the ARCHIE Foundation and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity) have joined forces with international arts events company, Wild in Art, to create the world’s first nationwide art trail. The project aims to significantly boost Scotland’s provision for children and young people in hospital by raising essential funds through the art trail, associated events and five city auctions.
The 2019 Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail builds on the success of the Dundee 2016 Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail which raised £900,000 for The ARCHIE Foundation.
This major public art event will run for eleven weeks, from June to September 2019, taking to the streets of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.
The trail aims to unite the country as it raises awareness for Scotland’s national children’s hospital charities, which work in partnership with the NHS to provide care for a combined half a million babies, children and young people each year by raising money towards hospital equipment, family support services, research, staff, training and play and recreation spaces.
Each Oor Wullie sculpture will be unique. Artists will be commissioned to individually design over 150 human sized sculptures, each reflecting Scotland’s cultural identity. The charities will appeal to local businesses and organisations to sponsor the Oor Wullie’s, which will then be placed at iconic and interesting locations throughout the five cities, with a dynamic App and Trail Map navigating the public find them all. At the end of the trail, the sculptures will be auctioned off in five exciting events to raise as much money as possible for the charities.
By joining artists, businesses, communities, and schools together through Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail the project aims to bring lots of activities for the public and visitors to enjoy throughout the summer. There will also be an opportunity for schools and communities to play a significant part in the trail. A large schools programme will run alongside the event and every school in Scotland will be invited to take part in the trail and receive a Wee Oor Wullie sculpture of their own to decorate. Fun runs, apps, and a number of associated events will encourage local communities to get involved.#
Project Milestones:
- October 2018 – The Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister of Scotland launches the Trail. All sectors invited to sponsor a sculpture.
- Winter 2018 – Artists from across the country individually design each sculpture.
- Spring 2019 – Schools in Scotland invited to take part in trail and receive a Wee Oor Wullie sculpture to decorate.
- June – September 2019 – All decorated sculptures installed across the country for everyone to discover and enjoy throughout Summer 2019!
- September 2019 – Spectacular nationwide auctions of sculptures!
Roslyn Neely, CEO of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity explains why their charity wanted to be involved: “This is such a great opportunity for us to link up with two charities, who share our vision of transforming the experiences of children and young people in hospital.
“The beauty of Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail is that children and families from across Scotland can have a great time following the trail of Scotland’s favourite son, whilst making a huge difference for generations of children who need to be in hospital.
“When DC Thomson Media suggested the Trail, we jumped at the chance and we can’t wait to partner up with individuals, schools and companies to make this the biggest and most fun art trail ever”
For further information about Edinburgh Hospital Children’s Charity please visit: https://echcharity.org
David Wood, CEO of The ARCHIE Foundation further describes the reasons why the charities have joined forces: “Each charity is different, but we all share a common aim of making the experience of being in hospital as positive as it can be for local children.
“The BIG Bucket Trail is such an exciting way to bring together people all over Scotland, not only to support the charities, but also to get out and enjoy one of the biggest art trails of its kind. ARCHIE is very proud to be part of it.”
For further information about The ARCHIE Foundation please visit: https://archie.org
Shona Cardle, CEO of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity explains: “Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail is a wonderful opportunity for people across Scotland to support our children in hospital, no matter where they are treated.
“We all want the best possible care for our young patients, and we are delighted to be a part of this unique and exciting national art trail.”
For further information about Glasgow Hospital Children’s Charity please visit: https://www.glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org
Charlie Langhorne, Director of Wild in Art commented: “Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail is enormously exciting for all the team at Wild in Art. Building on the strength of our previous events in Scotland, this is our first (and indeed the world’s first) truly national trail; and something we are all immensely proud to be developing.
“Wild in Art believes passionately in bringing communities, businesses, schools and artists together, and through the power of creativity enabling significant funds to be raised for our charity partners as well as having major social and economic impacts. While acknowledging this, we also believe that Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail will make the entire population of Scotland smile, and on the back of a smile, amazing things can happen.”
For further information about Wild in Art please visit: http://www.wildinart.co.uk
Ellis Watson, CEO of DC Thomson Media commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be involved in this amazing project, bringing hundreds of Oor Wullie’s to the streets and raising bucket loads of cash for Scotland’s children’s hospitals.
“All of the partners involved are working incredibly hard to make this first ever nationwide trail something that everyone in Scotland can be proud of, and importantly, get involved in.”
Eddie Hawthorne, Chief Executive & Group Managing Director, Arnold Clark: “We’re delighted to be headline sponsors for Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail in 2019.
“This unique event not only gives people across Scotland the chance to come together and have fun, but it will raise vital funds for children’s hospitals across the country. We can’t wait to be involved in celebrating this true Scottish icon and helping to raise as much money as possible.”
Ways to donate and the promotional film can be found on: http://www.oorwullie.com
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