The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Oor Wullie Bucket Trail off on a national tour
Dundee’s favourite comic character to go Scotland-wide for good causes
Oor Wullie is aff on a braw adventure across Scotland to show he’s a’body’s Wullie.
His bucket trail, which raised £900,000 in Dundee two years ago for the ARCHIE Foundation, will head for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee next summer.
The major public art event, which will boast almost three times as many Wullie statues in iconic locations across the cities, was launched last night by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Artists from across the country will be invited to design the 150 human-sized sculptures to reflect Scotland’s cultural identity and every school will be invited to decorate a wee Oor Wullie.
At the launch in the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, Oor Wullie fan Ms Sturgeon said it was wonderful that the bucket trail will go Scotland-wide.
She said: “The Dundee trail was a massive success so to extend it right across the country is brilliant.
“It’s going to raise lots of money for fantastic causes and everybody loves Oor Wullie.
“People seeing the statues when they arrive is going to be really exciting for all generations.”
Supported by Oor Wullie custodians, DC Thomson Media, the trail will raise money for and awareness of Scotland’s three hospital charities.
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, the ARCHIE Foundation and Glasgow Children’s Hospital have joined forces with international arts event company Wild in Art for the world’s first nationwide art trail.
For 11 weeks from June to September 2019, people will be able to follow the trail of unique artworks through the five cities which will each host associated events and an auction of the statues at the conclusion.
They will be able to use a dynamic app with a trail map, and local businesses and organisations will be invited to sponsor the Oor Wullie statues.
Ellis Watson, executive chairman of DC Thomson Media, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be involved in this amazing project, bringing hundreds of Oor Wullies to the streets and raising bucket loads of cash for Scotland’s children’s hospitals.”