The BIG Stampede launches hunt to find artists

The BIG Stampede, a free art trail which will see a herd of safari animals descend on Hamilton, is on the hunt for artists!

Article Source: The BIG Stampede
Last Updated: 24 September 2016 12:41

The large scale art exhibition which is arranged in partnership between Hamilton BID and creative producers Wild in Art is looking for artists to create and submit their designs for the town’s biggest mass participation art event next summer.

Both well-known and undiscovered artists are invited to come up with designs for one of the life-sized safari sculptures that will be displayed around Hamilton as part of a spectacular trail. After the trail has ended the designed sculptures will be auctioned off to raise valuable funds for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

In a first for Scotland, the artists will be able to create designs for a variety of safari sculptures including elephants, lions, gorillas, giraffes and rhinos. Each artist can enter up to three designs, meaning if they are shortlisted they could potentially have more than one of their creations brought to life on the trail.

Gareth Walker, BID Manager at Hamilton BID, said: “It is an exciting time for The BIG Stampede as we launch our appeal for artists and we’d encourage those interested to submit their desgins for their chance to be part of our spectacular art exhibition when it comes to town. We’re looking for bold, vibrant and adventourous ideas that will bring to life the trail so artists shouldn’t hold back with their creations.

“The BIG Stampede will be a fun project for the artists but it is also a great opportunity for them to showcase their work to a mass audience. Each artist selected will have a plaque acknowledging their artwork on their safari animal which is anticipated to be seen by thousands of people.”
The shortlisted designs will be selected by a panel of art experts where they will then go on display to the sculpture sponsors in spring 2017. The sponsors will then have the opportunity to pick from their favourite designs with selected artists given £850 upon completion of their artwork.

Designs can be submitted across a number of art dicisplines from traditional to new media, illustrations to fine art. The animals can even be covered in grafitti, mosaics, embroidery or metalwork, to create a striking effect.

Charlie Langhorne, Director, Wild in Art, said: ‘We hope people will be inspired by the challenge of a three-dimensional canvas and by being involved in such an exciting project. We want to encourage local artists to submit designs - this will be a wonderful showcase for artistic talent.”

The BIG Stampede will go on display from June to August 2017 with over 60 sculptures expected to take over Hamilton and the surrounding areas. The free public art event will bring businesses, artists and schools together to create a spectacular and colourful scuplture trail which will positively contribute to the economic, social and cultural life of the town as well as support Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

Young people will also have the opportunity to take part in the action through The BIG Stampede’s educational initiative, which will work with local school pupils creating their own miniature sized hippo sculptures to go on display as part of the trail.

Wild in Art is one of the leading creative producers of mass-appeal public art events which brings together business and creative sectors with schools and local communities through the creation of city-wide trails of uniquely painted sculptures.

The BIG Stampede follows proudly in the footsteps of Hamilton BID’s inaugural project with Wild in Art in 2014, which saw 25 giant Clydesdale horses and 30 mini ponies canter into town as part of the Ready Steady Gallop campaign which raised £67,800 for Kilbryde Hospice.

For further information about The BIG Stampede visit www.thebigstampede.co.uk. To find out more about the artist opportunities please email artists@hamiltonbid.org
Follow The BIG Stampede on Twitter at www.twitter.com/2017BigStampede and Like The BIG Stampede on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIGStampede/