Call for artists to design new Lincoln Imp Trail

The Imp sculpture with Sarah Loftus, Lincoln BIG Chief Executive. Photo: Mick Fox

Amateur and professional artists are being invited to coming up with designs for Lincoln Big’s upcoming Imp Trail.

As previously reported, 30 full-sized Imps will invade Lincoln when the trail hits the city’s streets in 2020.

Lincoln BIG is working with public art expert Wild in Art on next year’s trail.

Artists previously created designs for the sculptures at Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail in 2015 and the Knights’ Trail in 2017.

Any interested artists can submit decorative designs for the full-sized Imps. Those whose designs are chosen by Lincoln BIG’s sponsors will then work with a business or organisation on their final design.

Interested artists should fill out the submission form here.

Lincoln BIG is working with the Education Business Partnership, who will be engaging with schools as part of its education programme, and participants will have their own medium-sized sculptures. It is looking to have up to 60 half-sized Imps in its education trail.

Working together for Success: Charlie Langhorne, Wild in Art Chief Executive; Michele Duggan, St Barnabas Hospice Director of Income Generation & People; Michelle Allison, the EBP’s Chief Executive Michelle Allison; Sarah Loftus, Lincoln BIG Chief Executive. Photo: Mick Fox

Sarah Loftus, Chief Executive at Lincoln BIG, said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for artists to demonstrate their creativity and win the chance to have their work featured in a trail which is expected to create worldwide interest.

“Artists can really let their imaginations run wild because they have a wide brief to work to. We are welcoming designs in a huge variety of art forms, from traditional to digital media, fine art, illustration, graffiti, mosaic, embroidery or metal work.

The Great Reveal – Sarah Loftus, Lincoln BIG Chief Executive, unveiled one of the new Imp statues during the event. Photo: Mick Fox

“Overall, we are looking for designs which will add drama, fun and a wonderful flourish to our sculpture trail – making it irresistible to everyone and a major talking point.”

Lincoln BIG is also looking for organisations and businesses to sponsor one of its 30 Imps. There are also special, as well as mainstream, sponsorship opportunities – for more information email [email protected]

Lincoln BIG is also working with charity partners St Barnabas. The hospice will be the beneficiary of monies raised when the individual Imp sculptures go under the hammer in a bumper auction after the public trail finishes, along with the Lincoln Creates Fund.