The Great North Snowdogs have arrived!

Have you spotted any of the Great North Snowdogs or Puppies yet?

Presented by creative producers Wild in Art, working in partnership with St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice, Great North Snowdogs has brought together businesses, artists, schools and community groups to create a public art trail of beautiful Snowdog sculptures, based on the story The Snowman and The Snowdog, by Raymond Briggs.

For ten weeks during Autumn and Winter 2016, the North East’s streets, parks and open spaces will become home to a series of individually designed Snowdog sculptures, painted by both well-known and undiscovered artists.

We have been out and about and spotted a few. We saw our first Puppies and Snowdogs at Jesmond Dene Pet Corner, and later James and his Daddy saw one in Tynemouth. When he told me about this encounter, while I was giving him a kiss after his bedtime story, James sat up, eye wide; “Mummy I saw a dog with socks for ears and a sock for a tail!” I asked him what colour the dog was, but unfortunately that part wasn’t as important as the sock ears.

The sculpture trail, sponsored by businesses and individuals, showcases the rich cultural offer and wealth of artistic talent in the area. You can download a trail map and dedicated app, which will help you find the Snowdogs. There is also a code on the plinth of each Snowdog which you can enter into the app to uncover special offers and unlock rewards.

When the trail ends, the sculptures will be auctioned at an event in December 2016, to raise funds for St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice.

I think the majority of Snowdogs can be accessed via public transport, and the trail takes you all over the area, but not necessarily in popular tourist areas.

Let me know if you spot any Snowdogs!