TransPennine Express announces Snowdogs Support Life sponsorship
TransPennine Express (TPE) is set to join West Yorkshire’s largest-ever public art trail this September.
The train operator is to encourage customers to explore different parts of its network by sponsoring a sculpture on the Snowdogs Support Life, Kirklees art trail.
Organised by The Kirkwood, in partnership with Wild in Art and Snowman Enterprises Ltd, Snowdogs Support Life, Kirklees is inspired by the much-loved animated film, The Snowman™ and The Snowdog, the sequel to Raymond Briggs’ classic picture book and film The Snowman™. The magical sequel is celebrating ten years since it was first broadcast on Channel 4, this year.
Darren Higgins, Commercial Director for TransPennine Express said: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring a sculpture as part of the upcoming Snowdogs Support Life art trail.
“We are proud to serve communities across Kirklees and are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the art trail onto our trains this September.”
TransPennine Express commissioned the ‘Kirklees Rocket’ Snowdog sculpture from local artist Chris Leaper, who paid homage to the expansive railway links that connect Huddersfield with the rest of the UK.
The sculpture has been lovingly hand-painted and will join the art trail this September alongside more than 60 unique Snowdog designs. The Snowdogs will be on display across Kirklees for visitors to visit and admire.
The spectacular free art event will help raise awareness and essential funds for The Kirkwood as it continues its work to help and support those living with a life-limiting illness in Kirklees.
Darren added: “We share a core value with the trail – bringing people together as a way to help the economy grow while encouraging visitors from far and wide to explore new parts of the region.”
Duncan Batty, Director of Income Generation and Marketing with The Kirkwood said: “We are delighted that TransPennine Express has come onboard as a sponsor of Snowdogs Support Life, Kirklees. It’s a truly unique and exciting event for our local area, and we are expecting lots of people to be out on the trail this autumn.
“There’s no better way to explore parts of the trail than by rail, and we hope visitors from far and wide will take the opportunity to visit new places that they’ve never been to before here in Kirklees.”
The trail will take place across Kirklees from 2 September for eight weeks and will cover key calling points on the TPE network including Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley and Slaithwaite.
Notes to editors
About Snowdogs Support Life, Kirklees
Organised by The Kirkwood in partnership with Wild in Art and Snowman Enterprises Ltd, Snowdogs Support Life, Kirklees will be a free large scale art event and will show off the very best creative talent from local, regional and national artists. As part of this one-of-a-kind public art event in West Yorkshire, businesses are being given the opportunity to sponsor one of the individually designed Snowdog sculptures. This presents businesses with a unique and exciting way to promote their business throughout the local area.
The trail will help raise awareness and essential funds for The Kirkwood as they continue their work to help and support those living with a life limiting illness in Kirklees, while encouraging visitors from far and wide to explore new parts of our region.
Visit www.snowdogskirklees.org.uk
About The World of The Snowman™
Originally published in 1978, The Snowman was created and illustrated as a wordless picture book by Raymond Briggs. Beautifully illustrated with pencil and crayon, the story follows a boy, James, who builds a snowman in his garden one winter’s day. That night, an unforgettable adventure begins when The Snowman comes to life.
Producer, John Coates convinced Raymond to allow him to animate this magical story and the animation launched on Channel 4 in its inaugural year in 1982. The film was a huge success, earning an Academy Award nomination and winning a BAFTA TV award. It has been repeated every Christmas on Channel 4 in the 40 years since.
Ten years ago this year, the highly-anticipated sequel, created with Raymond Briggs’ approval, was announced. The Snowman and The Snowdog premiered on Channel 4 on 24th December 2012 and was seen by over 10 million viewers over that festive period. The Snowman and The Snowdog takes place in the same house that features in The Snowman and tells the story of a boy, Billy, who discovers a snowman-making kit hidden under the floorboards of his new home on Christmas Eve. Billy builds a snowman and, with a little leftover snow, a snowdog. As the clock strikes midnight, the two come to life and Billy joins them on a magical, fun-filled journey across the skies to attend a party filled with snowmen and Father Christmas himself.
The Snowman brand continues to enjoy an international audience with global broadcast of the sequel, along with an array of publishing from Puffin and consumer products; live and immersive experiences managed by Penguin Ventures. Snowman Enterprises Limited (SEL) is a Penguin Random House company.
About Wild in Art
Wild in Art is the leading producer of spectacular public art events that entertain,
enrich, inform and leave a lasting legacy. It brings together businesses and creative
sectors with schools and local communities through the creation of uniquely painted
sculptures.
Since 2008 Wild in Art has animated cities across the world including Manchester,
Sydney, Auckland, Cape Town and São Paulo, and created trails for the London
2012 Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Historic Royal Palaces
and Penguin Random House.
Wild in Art events have:
Enabled over £19.5m to be raised for charitable causes
Injected £3.5m into local creative communities
Engaged over 950,000 young people in learning programmes
Helped millions of people of all ages to experience art in non-traditional
settings
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