A fabulous new art trail ‘Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent’ comes to Maidstone this Summer

Shaun the Sheep outside Maidstone East station. A statute of a cartoon sheep, Shaun. Shaun has a black face, ears and legs and a fluffy white body and head. Shaun is stood on a paved forecourt area in front of a modern glass fronted station building. On the roof of the building are British Rail "double arrow" logos and the station name, "Maidstone East".

As if by magic 50 fabulous and colourful Shaun the Sheep Sculptures have appeared overnight around the landmarks of Maidstone town centre and will remain there from Saturday 29 June until 30 August 2024.

 

Residents and visitors to Maidstone woke up to see the town transformed by a wonderful new FREE art trail ‘Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent’ which will see all the unique Shaun the Sheep sculptures placed at various famous landmarks across Maidstone town centre.

 

The team from Heart of Kent Hospice and their partners, along with all the wonderful artists, have been working hard behind the scenes to bring this delightful free art trail to life for all to enjoy.  At the end of the trail, each sculpture will be auctioned at a live event on Thursday 26 September 2024 to raise funds for the Hospice charity.

 

The free ‘Shaun in the Heart of Kent’ art trail follows on from the hugely popular Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade in 2021 and is a partnership between Heart of Kent Hospice, Wild in Art, the leading producer nationally and globally of these spectacular art events, and Aardman, the world-famous, award-winning studio based in Bristol, and creator of the cheeky and lovable character Shaun the Sheep. Maidstone Borough Council is the Official Presenting Partner of the trail.

 

The organisers are hoping this trail will deliver lots of fun and laughter this summer and attract both residents and visitors from far and wide to discover, and re-discover the town, making art accessible to all. With three Southeastern stations in the town centre the trail is perfect for a family ‘Days Out By Rail’ adventure.

 

 

Infographic. A blue circle with the hash tag "Days Our By Rail" and the website of ScenicRailBritain.com Images of a town, hills and a castle appear in the top section of the circle

Themed weeks will add to the fun of the trail which is all about enjoying the outdoors and exploring the fascinating sights and rich history of Maidstone with family and friends. The trail will take in key sites including the Maidstone Museum, Kent History and Library Centre, Hermitage Millennium Amphitheatre, the Carriage Museum and the picturesque parks and river path.  The trail will also provide an ideal opportunity to learn a few interesting facts about the specialist care provided by Heart of Kent Hospice.

 

The impressive artwork will celebrate all types of art and will include colourful illustrations, eye-catching graphics, fine art and graffiti. Discover all 50 bold and eye-catching Shaun sculptures on the trail and take selfies with your favourites.

 

It’s easy for everyone to take part in the trail, as the location of each Shaun is shown on the Shaun in the Heart of Kent map’ or via the free trail app (available to download from the App Store or Google Play).

 

Maps can be picked up from Shaun HQ in the town centre, all 14 Heart of Kent Hospice charity shops, Maidstone Museum, Kent History and Library Centre and at many other local businesses.

 

The trail also includes 54 little Shaun sculptures, each designed and painted by local schools, community organisations, charities and care homes from Maidstone and the surrounding areas. One special Shaun has been created by children who are supported by the Hospice.

 

Ann-Marie Kelly, Income Generation Director at Heart of Kent Hospice said: “This is no ordinary trail – as Shaun the Sheep will be helping us to raise awareness and funds for our charity Heart of Kent Hospice which opened 33 years ago to provide specialist advice, support and outstanding care for people living with a terminal illness.

“We want as many people as possible to enjoy this free and fully accessible trail across the summer and to enjoy making happy memories while exploring Maidstone together.”

 

Later this year people can book a slot to visit all the Shaun Sculptures under one roof at the Farewell Weekend which takes place between 13 – 15 September. This is the ideal time to choose which Shaun Sculpture to bid on at an exciting live auction on Thursday 26 September 2024.  All proceeds from the auction will help the Hospice to continue to provide outstanding Hospice care to the local community.

 

To ensure you don’t miss out on any of the fun, visit www.shaunheartofkent.co.uk or download the app.

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