Lionheart Project announces UK tour dates

Shauna Richardson’s ‘Lionheart Project’ has announced its UK tour, which will see three giant crocheted lions travelling the country in a 16 metre long illuminated glass case. Starting on 1 May 2012 at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, the three giant lions will tour the East Midlands before arriving at the Natural History Museum in London in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Harking back to a travelling menagerie show, the lions will also visit venues in Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northampton and Nottingham, calling in at events such as SO Festival and Twycross Zoo. The lions will reach out to an estimated audience of more than half a million visitors across all venues, with countless more sightings when they take to the road.
 
 
Shauna Richardson is an artist known for her realistic crocheted animal creations, a body of work she calls ‘Crochetdermy’. Over the course of two years, Richardson has individually crocheted the three lions over nine metre long structures. Celebrating the rich textile heritage of the East Midlands, Richardson has used 36 miles of Swaledale wool from the Derbyshire Dales, to create an interpretation of the three golden lions on Richard the Lionheart’s coat of arms, a strong symbol of England.

A unique and highly accessible public art project, Lionheart has been designed to actively engage and inspire a diverse audience from open studio activities, school and community projects and workshops, to the final piece being witnessed through the transparent glass case on the road which will be illuminated at night. Lionheart can also be experienced through a number of viral initiatives aimed at getting the whole nation crocheting, including ‘Guerrilla Crochet’ where members of the public are being encouraged to make their own textile installations and share images of these unexpected pop-up crotcheted creations online.

One of 12 Arts Council England’s Artists Taking the Lead commissions, the project will form part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme.

Artist Shauna Richardson said: “The brief for Artists Taking the Lead was extraordinary. Here was an exciting opportunity to think big and create something spectacular in the East Midlands that would celebrate the region. Through my practice I came into contact with the theory that anything can be art, with Lionheart Project I am using objects and traditional craft to explore this theory. After two years crocheting the lions I am most looking forward to surprising people with the finished piece on the road.”

Peter Knott, Regional Director, Arts Council England said: “Lionheart Project is both striking and engaging and it’s fair to say it has been an Olympic effort for Shauna to craft a piece on such an impressive scale.

“2012 promises to be an unprecedented year for the arts in England and one which artists like Shauna have been working towards for some time. The project will appeal to people of all ages but children and young people will be particularly enthralled. Lionheart will tour the region and beyond and may also be spotted now and again prowling near the torch relay. I hope as many people as possible get the chance to see this amazing work during 2012.”

Lionheart Project 2012 Tour:

Chatsworth

(1 May – 10 June)

Chatsworth, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is set in the heart of the Peak District on the banks of the river Derwent. Visitors can explore the historic house for fascinating stories and one of Europe’s most significant art collections. In the garden, visitors can discover water features, giant sculptures and beautiful flowers set in Britain’s most stunning and surprising country estate. Or they can come face to face with our farm animals in our working farmyard and enjoy adventurous fun in the playground. Chatsworth also has holiday cottages and hotels, shops and restaurants, including Britain’s best farm shop.

Nottingham, Old Market Square

(20 June to 22 June)

The Old Market Square in Nottingham is the largest square in the United Kingdom, forming the heart of the city, and covering an area of approximately 22,000 m². Located in the heart of Nottingham city centre, the square is bounded by Beast Market Hill to the West, Smithy Row to the North, and South Parade to the South. The Eastern end of the square is dominated by the Council House. The square has been at the centre of Nottingham life for hundreds of years, and hosts a lively programme of events and activities throughout the year.The Old Market Square is accessed easily by both the bus and tram. There are also many car parks within the area enabling good access for cars. Being only a 5 minute walk from the train and coach station, the Square is also easily accessible for those travelling from outside of Nottingham. Nottingham City Council will shortly be launching the Game On campaign, highlighting Nottingham’s programme of events, special offers and activities to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games.

SO Festival, Lincolnshire

(Louth between 23 – 26 June, followed by Skegness on 27 June)

Between June 23 and July 1, 2012, SO Festival 2012 is set to transform Lincolnshire’s coastal district of East Lindsey into an international arts venue with spectacular visual art, street theatre, world-class performers and dance acts. As one of the biggest cultural festivals in the country, with close connections to London 2012, this week long programme promises to delight visitors and residents alike with events and activities taking place both on the coast and in the District's traditional market towns.

Leicester, Orton Square

(28 June - 10 July)

Leicester City Council welcomes the Lionheart Project to Leicester City, home town of artist Shauna Richardson. The exhibit will be presented in the perfect setting of Orton Square, at the heart of Leicester’s Cultural Quarter. The Cultural Quarter is the main creative centre for Leicester, and is only a short walk away from the busy shopping areas and the city centre. The Cultural Quarter is home to many creative businesses and venues including Curve; Leicester's state of the art theatre, designed by world renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, Phoenix Square; Leicester’s film and digital media centre, and the Leicester Creative Business (LCB) Depot; a hub for Leicester's creative
industries. There are many bars, restaurants and clubs in the area which is a thriving destination for art, Culture and Leisure activities. The event also coincides with the Olympic Torch which will visit Leicester (2 - 3 July) with an evening celebration event at Abbey Park on 2 July.

Northampton, Market Square

(11 July - 19 July)

Northampton is one of the largest towns in the UK. The Market Square is at the heart of the town and has been the site of working market for over 800 years. Today, a traditional market is held Tuesday to Saturday. The Square recently benefited from an extensive regeneration project that revamped the market stalls, redesigned the entrance to create an attractive gateway with seating and water feature and saw the installation of a state of the art LED lighting scheme. Since 2009, the square has hosted an annual programme of events, from food festivals and community projects to art exhibitions and specialist markets.

Natural History Museum

(20 July - 10 Sept)

As well as being an award-winning tourist attraction, having received the Visit London Evening Standard Best London for Free Experience Award and the Best Family Fun Award 2010, the Natural History Museum is also a world-leading science research centre. Through its collections and scientific expertise, the Museum is helping to conserve the extraordinary richness and diversity of the natural world with groundbreaking projects in over 70 countries.

Twycross Zoo

11 Sept – 21 Dec)

Twycross Zoo is now nearing its 50th year of business, having evolved from a comparatively small collection to become one of Britain's major zoos, with over 1,000 animals, children’s activities and keeper talks. Over the last six years, the zoo has really evolved and now has immersion exhibits: these give visitors the opportunity to experience different parts of the world and see the animals in their natural habitat.

www.lionheartproject.com