• Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
• Thursday September 7 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Big Dog Art Trail hailed a huge success as sculptures are prepared for auction

Swindon’s Big Dog Art Trail has been hailed a huge success as the balloon dog sculptures are collected and prepared for auction in aid of Julia’s House Hospice.

The world’s first-ever balloon dog art trail with 23,000 people taking part via an app, collecting 210,000 Swindogs and Swinpups and walking 13,500 miles around the centre of Swindon.

And 1,083 people collected all 72 sculptures located in local parks and green spaces, shopping streets, libraries and community centres across town.

All in aid of Julia’s House, the local children’s hospice charity, and brought to Swindon by Wild in Art, the seven-week-long public art event had people of all ages out and about exploring Swindon.

Chris Hyde, project manager of The Big Dog Art Trail, said: “We have been blown away by the response from the public to the trail.

“The Swindogs and Swinpups have brought joy, excitement and colour to Swindon over the summer, for locals and also for tourists to the town, many of whom have visited just to see the trail.

“It has been amazing to see everyone’s reactions and watch families, children and even pets all enjoying the amazing designs and exploring the local area to visit their favourite places as well as discover new ones.”

There will be one final chance to see the sculptures under one roof – a Farewell Weekend will be held at the STEAM Museum on September 16 and 17. The balloon dogs will then be auctioned on Tuesday, September 19.