Barbie-themed elephant stops by Barton based cinema, as “Barbie Mania” sweeps across the globe

March of the Elephants calls for artists to showcase their skills in sculpture trail set to feature across Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield

A launch event supported by local businesses and VIP guest, singer, Tony Hadley, was held to kickstart colourful art trail, March of the Elephants, at the St Mary’ Hub in Lichfield. 

The March of the Elephants trail is an exciting, free public art sculpture trail due to take place in summer 2024, which will see around 60 elephant sculptures pop up across Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield from 1st July 2024. 

The launch event welcomed special celebrity guest Tony Hadley, former member of the band Spandau Ballet.  

Prior to attending the event in Lichfield, Tony visited patients, volunteers and staff on the St Giles Hospice Inpatient Unit in Whittington to see first hand how the funds from the trail will impact local people, and their loved ones.  

Whilst visiting the Whittington site, he met patient, Colin Frewtell, 85, from Lichfield, along with Colin’s friend, Karen. Colin said: “It was lovely to have Tony come and visit us in the hospice – he’s a really nice man and chatted with me about lots of different things – including The Chase!  

“Karen, my friend, is a superfan of Tony’s – she worships him! So, as soon as I knew he was coming, I told her to come along and visit me” 

Following the visit, Tony officially launched the March of the Elephants sculpture trail by unveiling and signing a “gold” elephant sculpture, which will feature on the trail from next summer, before being auctioned off in the Autumn to raise vital funds for St Giles. 

The 62-year-old singer said: “I was hoping and praying the elephant I unveiled would be gold, and I was right! It’s really beautiful and I’m looking forward to seeing the other elephants that will be unveiled.  

“I think March of the Elephants is such an amazing project and how can you not want to get behind it. We never know one day, ourselves or one of our loved ones may need hospice care. If you can, please dig deep and support this trail to help raise vital funds for St Giles Hospice.  

Had a great day both at the launch and at the hospice – meeting the patients and staff at the hospice was brilliant, and being here has been fantastic, it’s been great to learn more about what’s to come in Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield for 2024.” 

Elinor Eustace, Deputy Chief Executive at St Giles Hospice, welcomed everyone to the launch where guest speakers spoke about the benefits of getting involved in the trail, how it will impact local people, and the difference funds raised from the trail will make to local people, and their loved ones living with a terminal illness.  

Tim Carter, Director at the SnowDome, who are also presenting partners for the trail, said: “We’re really excited and proud to be presenting partners for the March of the Elephants Trail. As a company, it’s always been really important to us to offer inclusive, family activities to our community, and we’ve chosen to work closely with St Giles on this project so we can continue to do that throughout the Summer of 2024.” 

With the trail going live in summer 2024, there are so many ways to get involved with the trail, including sponsoring an elephant. 

If you want to find out more about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch at [email protected]

March of the Elephants calls for artists to showcase their skills in sculpture trail set to feature across Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield

*Dates updated*

March of the Elephants is calling for artist submissions for its sculpture trail, which is set to parade streets, parks and open spaces in summer 2023.

In partnership with Wild in Art, St Giles Hospice will display a herd of 60 elephant models across Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

Each sculpture will be designed and decorated by artists and communities to create the large-scale public art event, which will bring tourism and economic benefits to the region, put smiles on people’s faces, promote wellbeing and exploration and raise vital funds for St Giles Hospice.

Chloe Hope, Head of Fundraising at St Giles Hospice, said: “We need artists that will go head and shoulders above the rest. Our incredible herd of sculptures will be displayed for ten weeks next summer in locations across the cities and towns, highlighting iconic spots and hidden gems and engaging with communities from Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

“From fine art, graffiti and mosaic, we’re encouraging artists from all backgrounds to submit their designs which will help people to get out and about and explore their local areas.”

Once submitted, design ideas will be presented to sponsors and successful artists are commissioned to apply their designs to the sculptures.

The first painted elephant, fondly named Elvis, was decorated by artist, Michelle Turton.

Michelle said: “I’m so pleased to be part of March of the Elephants with St Giles. My friend was cared for by St Giles in 2018 and we have wonderful memories of her time there. Designing and painting this elephant was something special, not only celebrating my friend’s memory but supporting the hospice at the same time.”

Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director at Wild in Art, said: “We’re excited to be working with St Giles Hospice to parade the elephants across the streets, parks and open spaces of Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for artists to add to their own portfolio and support a great cause by raising vital funds for St Giles Hospice.”

Artists should visit www.marchoftheelephants.co.uk/artists/ to complete the submission form. Designs must be submitted by 30th September 2023*. A maximum of three designs can be submitted. The final selection for designs will be made in October 2023*.

If you want to find out more about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch at [email protected]

Hospice patient unveils name of elephant sculpture ahead of World Elephant Day 2022

Ahead of World Elephant Day 2022, the name of the first March of the Elephants sculpture has been chosen by a patient receiving care at St Giles Hospice. The sculpture trail, due to take place throughout Summer 2023, will celebrate 40 years of St Giles providing care for local people and their families.

The name, Elvis, was chosen after Christine Hurden, 82, picked the suggestion out of the hat – the entries, which were submitted by colleagues and visitors, were “all shook up” before the final name was drawn. Christine, who has three children, is currently a patient on the Inpatient Unit receiving pain management after being diagnosed with bone cancer last month.

She said: “This is the first time that I’ve seen the elephant sculpture since coming into the hospice – I certainly didn’t expect it to be this big! It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? What an extraordinary job the artist has done.”

Elvis was decorated by artist, Michelle Turton, who chose a “Keep Strong, Stay Positive” message to be displayed on the five-foot sculpture. Elvis is 1 of 60 elephant sculptures who will parade the streets and parks of Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield throughout Summer 2023. Each sculpture will be designed by local, regional and national artists, designers and illustrators – both well-known favourites and newly emerging talent.

Christine continued: “I’m honoured to have been asked to pick the name – he’s the first elephant to have been unveiled – you could say fame at last!”

“I feel incredibly lucky to be receiving care at St Giles – the staff here have been exceptionally attentive; the porridge has been fantastic too! St Giles has such a superb history of caring for people and their families.

“My friends and family can visit Elvis next year knowing that I played a part in choosing what he would be called – what a lovely memory.”

Zoe Wright, Events Manager at St Giles Hospice, said:

“It’s so touching that Christine has picked the name of the first elephant to be unveiled for our March of the Elephants sculpture trail as money raised from the trail will help support patients like Christine and their families.”

What do you think about our elephant’s new name? We “can’t help falling in love” with him more and more every time we see him in the entrance to our hospice.

To find out more about the 2023 March of the Elephants sculpture trail and how you can get involved, visit our sponsor, artist and school pages.

Herd of colourful elephants to take over Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield in celebration of St Giles Hospice’s 40th anniversary

St Giles Hospice is delighted to officially announce the launch of “March of the Elephants”, an exciting public art sculpture trail due to take place in Summer 2023.

The event will celebrate the vibrancy and creativity that our community has to offer as well as showcasing a spectacular variety of talent across Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

March of the Elephants will see St Giles Hospice team up with event experts Wild in Art, who have been delivering world class public art events across the globe for over ten years.

More than 60 elephant sculptures will bring colour and joy to the streets, parks and open spaces across Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield, for ten weeks before being auctioned off to raise funds for St Giles Hospice.

Decorated by local and national artists, designers and illustrators, the elephants will form an ‘unforgettable’ trail of colourful sculptures for visitors to discover and enjoy. The free public art event is set to benefit the whole community, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to join in the fun.

Andrew Harkness, Chief Executive at St Giles Hospice, said:

“We are so excited to be working with Wild in Art to bring this trail to Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield. The trail will bring tourism and economic benefits to the region, put smiles on people’s faces, promote wellbeing and exploration and raise vital funds for St Giles Hospice.

“This is the largest event we have ever held. We hope that the community join us in celebrating the care delivered by St Giles in line with our 40th anniversary, enjoy seeing the beautiful elephant sculptures and perhaps learn a bit more about what hospice care is all about.”

Call for Partners & Sponsors

Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art, said:

“We are delighted to be working with St Giles Hospice to create the March of the Elephants sculpture trail.

“Our events are designed to bring the enjoyment of public art to everyone while offering new ways for people to explore their local area.

“Sponsorship of an elephant sculpture is a fabulous opportunity and there are many exciting ways to benefit from a collaboration and support St Giles Hospice.”

St Giles Hospice will soon be announcing some of the partners and sponsors who have already marched on board for 2023, but is now calling out for other businesses to take the opportunity to get involved by sponsoring an elephant sculpture.

Learning Programme

There is also an opportunity for schools and community groups to join in the march, with a chance to design and adopt their very own mini elephant sculpture.

Chloe Hope, Head of Fundraising at St Giles Hospice, added:

“We are launching the learning programme specifically for schools and community groups and we can’t wait to see the creative designs that the pupils come up with! Whilst this is an amazing opportunity for our charity to raise vital funds, we hope we are also giving something wonderful back into the local community that has supported St Giles Hospice for 40 years. The next 12 months will be a whirlwind of excitement and organisation for us, and I would urge local any educational institution, organisation or group to get in touch early so they can be part of this amazing celebration event.”

Get involved

If you’re an artist, represent a business, school, college, or local community group and want to be involved, or are interested in finding out more, email [email protected]