• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Wednesday July 12 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Big Dog Art Trail launched at Swindon’s Lydiard Park

Swindon’s Big Dog Art Trail – the world’s first balloon dog sculpture art trail – was officially launched at Lydiard Park yesterday (Tuesday).

Sponsors, artists and VIPs were given the opportunity to see the 30 Swindogs and 42 Swinpups before they are installed at their locations creating a 16-mile trail around the town.

The trail, which opens this Saturday (July 15) is free and fully accessible.

When the trail ends on September 3 the pack will be brought together for a grand Farewell Weekend on September 16 and 17 before they are auctioned on September 19.

The Big Dog Art Trail is a community project presented by Julia’s House and Wild in Art to raise vital funds for the Wiltshire-based children’s hospice charity, which provides care and support for seriously ill local children and their families at its hospice in Devizes or in families’ homes.

“We have been working on the trail for over a year with local businesses, the council, local and nationally renowned artists and around 40 schools – it has been an amazing community partnership,” said Mike Bartlett, deputy CEO at Julia’s House.

“We’re so excited to be revealing all 72 sculptures, including our own Julia’s House Swindog, which has been created by the children at the Wiltshire hospice, together with local artist Hannah Dosanjh.

“It’s going to be a great free event for everyone in Swindon this summer and a big visitor draw to the town. We’re so grateful to everyone who has got behind the trail and helped to make it happen.

“The money it will raise will make a huge difference to the life changing care we provide to seriously ill children and families in Swindon and across Wiltshire.”

For more information about the sponsors and artists and trail – including a downloadable app and map – is available at https://www.bigdogarttrail.co.uk