Leeds businesses sign up to taste success of new city art trail

Nineteen high-profile Leeds businesses and organisations have signed up to support the city’s latest creative adventure - an exciting public art event, Leeds Bear Hunt, which will take place in Summer 2023 and raise money for Leeds Children’s Hospital.

Hitting the streets of Leeds this July for ten weeks of visually spectacular, free fun and creativity, this ambitious event will see up to 35 individually designed, giant Bear sculptures displayed across Leeds’s streets and public spaces.

Leeds Hospitals Charity is working in partnership with art trail experts Wild in Art, who have been delivering world class public events across the globe for fifteen years.

The Bear sculptures have been created just for Leeds and are inspired by the Bear from the award-winning TV animation created by Walker Productions/Lupus Films, based on the best-selling children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, published by Walker Books.

Decorated by local and national artists, designers and illustrators, the Bears will form a family-friendly trail, which is expected to attract over 300,000 visitors to take part in a colourful and inspiring journey around the city centre.

The Trail, supported by Presenting Partners Leeds City Council and LeedsBID, has attracted the support of a wide range of businesses and organisations across Leeds.

Leeds Hospitals Charity is delighted to announce its first corporate sponsors: Victoria Leeds, Trinity Leeds, Leigh Day Solicitors, Aire Park, CITU, SOYO, Town Centre Securities PLC and the Merrion Centre, Wellington Place, Northern Rail, Leeds Bradford Airport, Think OTB, Grayling PR, and Caddick Group who have provided vital space for sculpture painting at the iconic Grade II listed building - Rose Wharf – which has been transformed from a mill to an award-winning office space.

Hollie Shackleton, asset manager for Caddick Group and SOYO Leeds, said: “Caddick is delighted to support Leeds Bear Hunt as a sponsor, and we can’t wait to see our chosen Bear design brought to life.

“It’s exciting to be associated with such an inclusive, fun, and family-friendly event and have this opportunity to support our long-term commitment to our local community through charitable work. Caddick is delivering a lot of change in Leeds and the Bear Hunt is a brilliantly engaging way to encourage everyone to get out and explore our exciting city.”

Four Official Supporters of the trail have been secured: First Direct, RE: Workshop from Leeds City College who are making sustainable plinths for each of the Bears, and Longs of Leeds who will be helping to get the Bears in place across the city.

And finally, Us Studio are the creative partner for the trail: they have developed the campaign identity that will being Leeds Bear Hunt to life across the city. Their creative guidance will help sponsors to tell compelling brand stories throughout the summer-long event.

Organisations who sign-up will associate their brand with a hugely popular event that will boost business impacts, tourism visits and community pride in the city. Sponsor, Partner, and Supporter packages come with impressive benefits including the ability to offer rewards via the trail’s app.

Karen Butler, head of place management at LeedsBID, said: “It’s great to see that local businesses are supporting Leeds Bear Hunt this summer. We would encourage people to get involved and bring families and friends to Leeds city centre to follow the trail and enjoy this exciting animation.”

All those who join Leeds Bear Hunt will ultimately support Leeds Hospital Charity to raise money for Leeds Children’s Hospital who treat hundreds of critically ill babies and children every year.

Cllr Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health, said: “Leeds Bear Hunt supports our citywide Child Friendly Leeds ambition to be the best city for children to grow up in.

“Leeds Bear Hunt addresses one of the new wishes of Child Friendly Leeds, developed following feedback from 80,000 children and young people, who told us they want more fun free things to do and cultural experiences across our city.

“Leeds City Council is delighted that so many children and families will have the opportunity to get out and about in Leeds and visit the bears this summer and be inspired by art.

“We are proud to be supporting such an inclusive, fun and family-friendly event which will also play an important role in helping sick children by raising funds for Leeds Children’s Hospital.”

There’s still time for companies to ‘catch a big one’, and organisers are urging those who are interested to get in touch as soon as possible to secure their involvement and maximise their return on investment.

Gail Chapman, special project manager for Leeds Hospitals Charity, said: “It’s important that Leeds Bear Hunt celebrates everything that makes Leeds so characterful, including its business, organisations, communities, and individuals.

“This event is created for and by Leeds and we are thrilled that the business community is both understanding and embracing its unique promotional potential.”

Charlie Langhorne, managing director and co-founder of Wild in Art, said: “Sponsorship of a Bear offers an unprecedented business development, employee, and community engagement opportunity.

“Sponsors of previous trails have leveraged a huge amount of added value and kudos by adopting a creative approach to their involvement. Don’t miss out on the change to be part of this highly visible event which will capture the imaginations of residents and visitors alike.”

Businesses, groups, organisations, and individuals can sponsor a sculpture. Additional opportunities exist for Official Supporters – contributing value in kind support; and Sponsors of the Learning, Community and/or Volunteer Programmes.