Kent firms can be part of a new free art trail planned for next summer.

Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent will be happening right across Maidstone and feature 50 individually-designed sculptures that children everywhere are going to love

The new trail follows on from 2021’s Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade, which included colourful sculptures of Elmer in many of Maidstone’s streets and parks.

The new trail, launching in 2024, is being run by Heart of Kent Hospice, in partnership with Wild at Art, Aardman and Maidstone Borough Council.

Companies are now invited to get involved with the community project by sponsoring one of the 50 unique sculptures, which will be designed and painted by local and national artists.

The cost to sponsor a sculpture is £7,000, plus VAT.

Businesses can also become an official sponsor for either the trail as a whole or specialising in one particular area, such as the Learning and Community Programme.

The Learning and Community Programme will see mini Shaun sculptures being designed and painted by students from local schools and will be included in the 2024 trail.

These mini sculptures will then be returned to the schools and community spaces after the trail has closed.

The larger sculptures will be auctioned off at the end of the trail to raise money for Heart of Kent Hospice.

To find out more about sponsorship opportunities and to request a sponsorship pack, contact Erica Snow at the Heart of Kent Hospice on shaun@hokh.co.uk.

You can also visit www.shaunheartofkent.co.uk/sponsors for more information.

To celebrate the one-year countdown to the launch of the trail, the Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford is inviting partners and sponsors to join its networking reception on Thursday, June 29.

The event will include updates on the progress of the project and further information on how to get involved.

If you would like to attend the event, contact shaun@hokh.co.uk or call 07596 856667.