School kids are now being given a chance to showcase their own artwork on board of a Metro train to celebrate the art trail of this summer, the art trail ‘Elmer’s Great North Parade’ is in support of St Oswald’s Hospice.

Nexus, who operates the Tyne and Wear Metro, is the headline partner for this parade, which will see huge sculptures of loved children’s book character Elmer the Patchwork Elephant appear across the region.

This will be for families to find and explore from the 21st of August 2019 to the 27th of October 2019.

Primary school pupils from schools across the areas of Tyne and Wear are playing their part in this art trail event by drawing their very own Elmers.

The winners of this will be displayed in a Metro train on both carriage cards and on window vinyl.

Nexus launched the competition alongside St Oswald’s on a visit that they held to Hadrian Primary School in South Shields, this visit was where Year 4 pupils got the chance to see the Elmer the Elephant sculpture in person and get some inspiration for the designs of their own.

Following the success of the Great North Snowdogs art trail that took place in the year of 2016, Elmer’s Great North Parade will feature 50 individually and separately designed Elmer sculptures generously sponsored by businesses within the local area, inspired by David McKee’s series of children’s books.

They will be joined by a herd of up to 115 little Elmer sculptures designed by the school children of local schools.

Elmer’s Great North Parade is being presented by the Children’s Hospice St Oswald’s, working in partnership with creative producers Wild in Art. Previous Wild in Art trails across the country have been known to attract thousands of local, regional and also national visitors – this makes a significant impact on the economic and cultural life of the region itself.

The Parade will in fact also be supported by a region-wide learning programme for the schools and the children’s groups and will Build up to the Elmer’s Farewell Weekend at the Newcastle Race Course on the 9th and the 10th of November This year.

This will allow people to see the sculptures all herded together for a final time before they are sold. They will be sold at The Big Elmer Auction, which is an exciting event that is to be held on 12th of November 2019 at Sage, Gateshead in order to raise money for St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice.

What did the officials say?

Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said:

“I want the Great North Elmer Parade to capture the public’s imagination, and what better way to get that going than by giving local school children a chance to come up with their own Elmer the Elephant designs.

“I’m looking forward to seeing some brilliant art work and the winning Elmer drawing will be put on display inside a Metro carriage and will stay there for the duration of the Elmer art trail.

“As the headline sponsor of the Elmer trail we’re delighted to be supporting this project. Metro will play a big part in helping families get out and about this summer to follow the trail. Metro is the best way to enjoy the Parade, with frequent trains and sculptures perfectly placed close to stations across Tyne and Wear.”

Jane Hogan, Elmer’s Great North Parade project lead, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Tyne and Wear Metro as our Headline Partner for the Parade. It was fantastic to work with the Metro team throughout the Great North Snowdogs art trail and it’s a delight to hear about their creative plans for this year’s trail. The drawing competition in schools across the region is the perfect way to encourage children and their families to get involved, making them really feel a part of what promises to be a spectacular event.”

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