Highland Hospice launches Highland HeArt Trail - will you spot all 23 sculptures before they’re auctioned off for the charity?
Beautiful artworks have popped up at sites dotted all across the Highlands - after the Highland Hospice launched its latest sculpture trail.
The Highland HeArt Trail, which as the name suggests features dozens of large heart shaped sculptures, officially launched on Monday.
Each of the large hearts has been lovingly decorated with colourful artworks inspired by the local community in which they sit.
And it is the latest in a series of sculpture trails which see large colourful artworks dotted across the region before being auctioned off for the charity. In the past the sculptures have featured Highland cows and squirrels.
The HeArts can be found in various locations, including one in each town where there is a hospice shop.
The overall trail is sponsored by NorPower, and the individual HeArts are sponsored by local businesses.
Highland Hospice’s fundraiser Jenna Hayden said, “We are so excited to host our third art trail during the school Easter holidays. Although today, Monday 14 April, is our official launch date, we have already had so many people sharing photos with us of HeArts they have spotted.”
“This year, we have introduced an app for the very first time – meaning that as well as collecting a free map from any of our Hospice shops, people can also interact with the trail digitally.”
After summer, once the trail has come to an end, the HeArts will be gathered for a farewell display, ‘HeArts in the Park’, before taking centre stage at a Highland Hospice charity auction in September before moving to their new permanent homes.
Jenna Hayden added, “Our HeArts will appeal to people of all ages, including families, tourists and those who live locally to each sculpture. The designs are truly incredible, and the finished products are better than we ever could have imagined thanks to our talented artists.”
“Huge thanks to NorPower, our main sponsor and all the other businesses who have sponsored a HeArt.”
Maps for this year’s trail are available from all Highland Hospice shops. You can also download an app for the trail at www.highlandhospice.org/hearttrail.
The trail runs until August 11, before all of the sculptures are gathered together in Bellfield Park in Inverness on August 23 and 24 for HeArts in the Park. They will then be auctioned on September 5.
People who spot the sculptures during this year’s trail are being urged to post their images of them on social media using the #highlandhearttrail hashtag, or by tagging and following the hospice’s Highland HeArt Trail page.
