The sheepish visitors flocking to Quorum this summer!
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of art at Quorum Park and collectively, support many local good causes. But did you know we’ve been hiding a flock of 115 painted sheep for the last few months, all in the name of charity?
It won’t have escaped the notice of many people across the region that from today (July 19th) there’s a brand new art trail raising funds for our friends at St Oswald’s Hospice – featuring none other than Shaun the Sheep, the loveable character from British animation studio Aardman.
Following the success of the previous trails, Great North Snowdogs 2016 and Elmer’s Great North Parade 2019, as well as Morph’s Epic Art Adventure North Tyneside 2022, this year Shaun has been chosen to decorate many landmarks across Newcastle upon Tyne for the next few months – the challenge is will you be able to find them all?!
And Quorum Park has been privileged to lend a hand, by giving the 45 large and 70 little Shauns a place to stay, from which the individual artists selected to transform each sculpture could work their magic.
Q11 was the site of this epic transformation, following which a VIP launch event was held for the artists to introduce their individual Shauns to sponsors and charity partners, featuring a grazing board from Crackers for Cheese, and Shaun-themed cake pops by Belta Brownies.
Among the notable designs to be painted on site include Wor Shaun, who was completed by NUFC favourites, Wor Flags. He, along with all of his companions, will make a brief return to the park in the autumn before being auctioned off at a gala event at Newcastle Civic Centre on October 10th.
The hospice, which provides end-of-life care and support for the community from its Gosforth base, received just under £800,000 from the previous art trail auctions, and many of the lucky buyers still display their mascots in prominent positions throughout the region.
Libby Fryer, Events Manager at St Oswald’s Hospice, said: “Staff at Quorum Park have got used to the sight of woolly visitors coming and going, as the office park kindly loaned us one of their empty office suites to use as a storage and painting space.
“This is the third St Oswald’s Hospice art trail the team has supported in this way, and we can’t thank them enough for temporarily housing our flock and keeping them safe ahead of it officially beginning.”
Laura McGrath, Sustainability and Community Director at Quorum Park added: “Having looked after the Snowdogs and Elmers previously, we couldn’t wait to be home to the Shaun flock too.
“St Oswald’s Hospice feels like part of the Quorum family and we’re always so excited to support it in whatever way we can, and celebrate the joy the trail brings to people young and old across the region.”
Find out more about how to join in on the art trail at shaunonthetyne.co.uk, and for more news from across the park, visit the community page or follow our Facebook page.
