The first companies to sponsor a squirrel on Highland Hospice’s 2019 art installation trail, ‘Go Nuts’, have been revealed.
Focus Vehicle Rental, Tulloch Homes and Eastgate Shopping Centre have each pledged £1,000 to sponsor one of the twenty 5 foot red squirrel sculptures which will be situated in various Highland towns and throughout the city of Inverness.
Local artist Scott Gleed who runs the business Gleed3D from near Logie Steadings beside Forres, has been commissioned by the Hospice to create the sculptures, and has already produced a pint-sized template to show how the squirrels will look.
Once all twenty sculptures have been created, artists will be invited to submit designs which will be submitted to the squirrel sponsors. Selected artists will then receive their blank sculpture to create and customise their design, creating a scurry of beautiful squirrels on display throughout the Highlands from June to September 2019.
The sculptures will be placed in every town which has a Hospice shop – Alness, Tain, Wick, Thurso, Portree, Fort Wiliam, Aviemore, Beauly, Dornoch, Grantown, Forres and Nairn – as well as a few in the city of Inverness.”
Highland Hospice’s Corporate Fundraiser Lisa Long urged, “We are extending an invitation to local companies to join Focus Vehicle Rental, Tulloch Homes and Eastgate Shopping Centre by sponsoring one of our twenty squirrels.
“As the squirrels are so widespread throughout the area, we would love businesses all over the Highlands to get involved. This is a great opportunity to support the Hospice in an unusual way which offers a range of PR and marketing opportunities.”
In September 2019, once the trail has come to an end, the squirrels will be gathered together for a farewell display, before taking centre stage at a Highland Hospice charity auction in October before they move to their new permanent homes.
If your business would like to sponsor one of Highland Hospice’s squirrels, please contact Lisa Long or Jenna Hayden on 01463 243132 or email gonutsarttrail@highlandhospice.org.uk
