Eight iconic sculptures are available to be fostered for FREE
Throughout the summer of 2022 more than 80 Owl and Pussy-Cat sculptures made their homes in locations across the borough.
The sculptures were created as part of Knowsley’s year as the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture and commemorated Edward Lear’s world famous, ‘The Owl and The Pussy-Cat’ which was written at Knowsley Hall.
More than 50 small sculptures were decorated by local schoolchildren and 32 large sculptures were designed and painted by artists and community groups to reflect the stories and heritage of Knowsley.
The sculpture trail was one of the most popular events of 2022, and will return again in the summer, but in the meantime, Knowsley Council would like to give local businesses, organisations and public settings the opportunity to display one of the sculptures at their venue.
There are eight large sculptures available, one for each of the towns and villages in Knowsley and these will be available between 13 February and 31 May 2023.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said: “The Owl and The Pussy-Cat Trail was one of the highlights of our year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture, thousands of people travelled around Knowsley, shared photos and took these amazing sculptures to their hearts.
“This is a rare and unique opportunity for local organisations to capture a bit of that magic for themselves before the sculptures go back out across the borough in the summer.”
If you are interested in fostering a sculpture, please submit the details of your organisation along with a statement of no more than 300 words detailing why you should be considered. Submissions will be reviewed by the Culture Team and successful applicants will be notified by the team. Please submit your application to sarah.craven@knowsley.gov.uk by 5 February. If you have any questions, contact Sarah Craven on the email address above or on 07920531356.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big are the sculptures?
These are the large sculptures so they’re just over a metre and a half tall and you’ll need a space with a footprint of around 1.2 metres squared for them to fit comfortably.
Where can I display the sculpture?
Somewhere that people can easily come and see them, ideally indoors so a retail unit, food and drink venue, foyer to a business or a church would be a great location.
Can I choose which sculpture I want?
We’ve already allocated each sculpture to a particular area. These are:
- Foss (owl) – Whiston
- Twinkle (cat) Kirkby
- Exotic Avery (cat) Knowsley Village
- Coco Cat (cat) Stockbridge Village
- Owly Need is Love (owl) Huyton Village
- Pex Hill (owl) Cronton
- Ray (cat) Halewood
- Owlvador Dali (owl) Prescot
How will I get the sculpture?
Our special Owl and Pussycat Delivery service will bring and install the sculpture to your venue and collect them again at the end of May to go back out on the trail.
How do I care for a sculpture?
The sculptures are sturdy, they’re made from fibre glass and protected with anti-graffiti and anti-bacterial varnish but they shouldn’t be climbed on or moved around to reduce the risk of damage.
If the sculpture does become damaged, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can arrange for it to be repaired.
You’ll also need to cover the sculpture on your insurance while it is in your care.
