On 10th June, Lincolnshire will see the official launch of its first county-wide art trail: the much-anticipated HeART Trail by St Barnabas Hospice, which will run over the summer until 4th September.
This is a feel-good activity that’s fun for the whole family, with participants able to view beautiful artworks as well as support their local hospice care charity.
The Trail will see dozens of heart-shaped fiberglass and bespoke sculptures pop up with the theme of ‘Love Lincolnshire’, to honour not just all the beauty that our county has to offer but also to celebrate St Barnabas Hospice as a charity at the heart of the community.
Chris Wheway, Chief Executive at St Barnabas Hospice, says: “We are really looking forward to launching the Trail and showing local people and visitors around our wonderful county as they visit the HeARTs.
“Twenty sculptures will be based in Lincoln, with five more in Skegness and along the East Coast, and another five that can be found in towns where St Barnabas has a Wellbeing Centre – Louth, Boston, Grantham, Spalding, and Gainsborough.
“The HeARTs are all absolutely beautiful. Some show off typically Lincolnshire sights, including the Lincoln Cathedral, Steep Hill, Boston Stump, Tattershall Castle, and the Red Arrows. Others honour our stunning landscape and seaside, the seals at Donna Nook, and the many animals that make up Lincolnshire’s wildlife population.
“It’s going to be a fantastic experience walking the HeART Trail, so please do get involved when it launches on 10th June!”
Handy HeART Trail guides will include a special scratch-off map and information about each sculpture and its artist. Blank miniature pottery hearts will also be available for people of all ages to decorate with their own designs after taking inspiration from the Trail.
These items can be purchased from St Barnabas charity shops, Lincoln’s Visitor Information Centre, and the Trail’s HeART Hubs, which will be hosted across the county this summer and are listed online here: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/heart-hubs
Each sculpture was created by an artist (nicknamed ‘HeARTist’) who submitted their design for consideration. St Barnabas presented these designs to the local businesses and organisations sponsoring the Trail, who chose their favourite design to put their name to. The HeARTists then turned concept into reality, resulting in thirty gorgeous sculptures.
For the duration of the Trail, you can also find the mini trail Young at HeART at the Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln.
This is a collection of sculptures made by students of nineteen schools and nurseries around the county, to help young people understand the importance of supporting local hospice care, as well as providing a great collaborative educational art project for young minds.
On Thursday 18th May, an exclusive HeART Trail Reveal event took place at Lincolnshire Showground, attended by HeARTists, the Trail’s partners and sponsors, and representatives from schools participating in Young at HeART.
The event gave guests a first look at all the HeART sculptures in one room, before they are prepared for installation across the county.
Chris Wheway continues: “The audience’s reaction to seeing all the HeARTs together was amazing, so we know it’s going to be a great success.
“The HeART Trail is going to be a celebration of all things Lincolnshire and will help us raise awareness of the important support St Barnabas gives to the communities around the county.
“Each year our charity provides high-quality, free care to over 12,000 people living with a life-limiting or terminal illness across Lincolnshire. Our services are offered in our two Hospice buildings, patients’ own homes and in our Wellbeing Centres.
“We need to raise £6.5million annually to continue providing these vital services, and we hope the HeART Trail will be a massive success with thousands of families taking part and supporting their local hospice charity.
“We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the businesses who are supporting us, all our HeARTists, local schools and their creative students, and fabulous volunteers who are helping us.
“If you would like to get involved by volunteering, please visit our website to see all opportunities available and how to sign up.”
Find out more about the HeART Trail or become a HeARTy volunteer by visiting: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/hearttrail
St Barnabas would like to give special thanks to the Trail’s Presenting Partners: Branston Ltd, Chestnut Homes, Daniel Charles Construction Ltd, Jacksons Workwear Rental Ltd and the Lincolnshire Freemasons.