Elmer’s Big Parade – FREE Elephant Art Trail!

Across the streets of Blackpool in Spring 2024! Did you follow Elmer’s Big Parade – FREE Elephant Art Trail? The troop of colourful characters were fundraising for Brian House Children’s Hospice.

Elmer Trail raises £200,013 for Children’s Hospice

Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool came to an epic conclusion at The Blackpool Tower on Thursday 27 June 2024. The large sculptures and some surprise lots raised a whopping £143,550 for Brian House Children’s Hospice. Collectively, the event raised an amazing £200,013! And on top of that, the impact was worth a staggering £14m for Blackpool’s economy.

In a night full of highs, bidders both in the room at the Tower’s Fifth Floor and watching online, dug deep in their pockets. They all went away with one of the unique pieces of art inspired by David McKee’s Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, which brought smiles to thousands of faces during the eight-week art trail.

The top seller of the night was Elmer’s Book Bench. It not only fetched an astonishing £8,000, but generous bidders in the room clubbed together to pay an additional £10,000 to have another bench specially made for the children at Brian House.

The charity’s Chief Executive is David Houston. After an emotional evening he said: “We are absolutely blown away by the generosity of the people who joined us for the auction. Whether they were in the room on the night or watching and bidding online – they raised a phenomenal amount of money.

Making a Mammoth Difference!

“We’re delighted that all of our sculptures fetched incredible hammer prices, giving a great number of people a lasting legacy of the fun and vibrancy we brought to Blackpool. But more importantly, the money raised last night will make a mammoth difference to local families who need us – their local hospice – for vital care and support.

“We can’t thank enough everyone who made a bid on the night, our incredible sponsors who made the trail happen along with more than 30 local schools and youth organisations who joined our Learning Programme, our event partners Wild in Art and Andersen Press for being with us every step of an absolutely wonderful journey.”

As well as the auction, money has been raised during the trail through dedicated trail and Elmer merchandise. Plus raffle tickets sales, the Learning Programme schools fundraising efforts, donations and tickets to the Farewell Weekend. A final total for Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool is still to be announced.

Elmer’s Farewell Weekend

Brian House Children’s Hospice hosted a Farewell Weekend for the art trail, bring the whole herd of large and small Elmer’s together for just two days. It took place at Blackpool Tower’s Fifth Floor on 22 & 23 June.

It’s was the last time you could see the 33 large sculptures inspired by David McKee’s popular children’s character Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Plus the 37 Young Elmer sculptures designed and painted by children at local schools and youth organisations. Together they made Blackpool’s first ever public art trail.

Just days later, the large sculptures were sold at auction, raising vital money for Brian House – the Fylde coast’s only children’s hospice. All Young Elmer’s went back to their school or youth organisation as a lasting legacy of their involvement in something truly special.

Linzi Warburton is Head of Fundraising. She said: “We’ve been blown away by the incredible comments and experiences of people taking part in our trail.

“Since the trail began in April 2024, more than 11,700 of you have downloaded the dedicated trail app to collect Elmer’s and rewards. You’ve collected nearly 34,000 sculptures and walked a total of 17,653 miles.”

Elmer’s Big Parade – FREE Elephant Art Trail!

Elmer’s Big Parade is a FREE art trail of colourful elephants across Blackpool. They were on display from 13 April to 9 June 2024.

Each Elmer is uniquely designed and decorated by established and up-and-coming artists. They’re all different and celebrate everything that makes our town unique! This large-scale public art event created a trail across Blackpool, encouraging thousands of local people to become a ‘tourist in their own town’. Plus attracting visitors from out of the area to spend time in the resort.

Each colourful sculpture was free for you to visit. Rewards offered by Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool supporters and sponsors could be collected through a dedicated free trail app.

The project is raising money for Brian House, the only children’s hospice on the Fylde coast. Helping to provide exceptional care to local children who are living with incredibly complex illnesses.

The art trail is supported by Presenting Partners Thompson Contracts and Ameon. Learning Programme Sponsor Tower Insurance and Official Supporters Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL), Beaverbrook’s, Partington’s Holiday Parks, RSS Events and Blackpool Council.

The Big Elmer Parade Preview!

The sculptures for Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool were revealed to the art trail’s sponsors and supporters ahead of the opening.

At a special launch event on Wednesday 27 March for sponsors and supporters, around 100 people got to see the 33 large sculptures and 37 Young Elmers. All inspired by David McKee’s popular children’s character Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Different UK artists have decorated each of the large sculptures. Children at local schools and youth organisations have designed and painted the smaller ones.

We got to reveal three more sculptures, ahead of the trail starting on Saturday 13 April. Visit Fylde Coast was the only channel vlogging at the special preview and press event. Here’s our preview and interviews –

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Which is your Favourite?

Our favourite is Beach Belle, designed by Donna Newman and sponsored by Partner Plus Media.

Belle is dressed in her polka dot swimsuit and is ready for a day on the beach. She celebrates Blackpool’s history as a resort town with a vintage-style design featuring classic British seaside postcards.

The event also revealed a specially-designed book bench, which trail-goers can use to rest, sit with Elmer and enjoy Blackpool. Don’t forget to snap a selfie!

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s Elmer Elaganza

Elmer Elaganza is one of the 70+ sculptures, designed by interior designer and television presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Laurence, who is also Creative Curator of the Blackpool Illuminations, popped into Brian House to reveal his sculpture.

He said: “When I heard about Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool, I jumped at the chance to be part of it. I know what a wonderful thing it is for this incredible town. My sculpture is of course inspired by my passion and flair for interior design and floral patterns. I hope everyone who visits it as part of the art trail enjoys their own interpretation of Elmer Elaganza.

“I really enjoyed my visit to Brian House to reveal my sculpture and meet some of the amazing children and the staff who do so much for them. It’s really humbling to know that by being involved in this fabulous event I am supporting such a remarkable place. It means so much to local families on the Fylde coast.”

Elmer Elaganza is sponsored by VisitBlackpool and will be on display at a location still to be announced.

A VisitBlackpool spokesperson said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Laurence who has created some amazing designs for Blackpool Illuminations down the years. We are thrilled that he has been able to produce something very special for Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool and can’t wait for it to be unveiled to the public.”

Fundraising for Brian House Children’s Hospice

Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool is being run in partnership with Wild in Art and Andersen Press. It was expected to raise over £110,000 for Brian House.

Linzi Warburton is Head of Fundraising. She said: “With just two weeks to go until our art trail, our preview event was a wonderful evening. We were able to show our sponsors and supporters everything we’ve been working on. It’s hard to explain the feeling in the room. But it was amazing to see the looks on everyone’s faces as they walked into the room and saw our truly remarkable sculptures all together. It’s the only time they’ll be seen together until our Farewell Weekend at the end of the trail.

“Everyone was absolutely in awe at the uniqueness of our sculptures and the work that has gone into them – not only by artists around the country but at our local schools and youth organisations too. It’s incredible how everyone can get the same blank canvas and provide such wonderfully different masterpieces. It was particularly special to show our supporters the large sculptures. They will be sold at auction to raise money for Brian House. It’s the area’s only children’s hospice, supporting the most fragile children on the Fylde coast. We just can’t wait until residents and visitors to our unique town can see them too.”

Expert Care for Children in Our Community

Brian House is the only specialist children’s hospice for the Fylde coast. It offers unique, expert care and support, making a huge difference to the most seriously ill and vulnerable children in our community.

The purpose-built hospice is part of Trinity Hospice. It allows children with incredibly challenging medical needs and conditions to have the chance to live life to the full. To play and have fun as every child should.

Brian House offers respite care whether it’s for a day, a night, a weekend or even longer. It’s for local families, as well as group support for the whole family. Brian House is also there for expert end-of-life care and bereavement support.

All of Brian House’s services are provided completely free of charge to every family which needs them. But running costs reach more than £1.4million. With little help from the government, it relies on the support and generosity of people and organisations in the community.

www.brianhouse.org.uk

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