Following on from the successful Cows about Cambridge Trail last year, Cambridge BID together with Wild in Art and funding obtained from Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority via Cambridge City Council are delivering a smaller but just as colourful Book Bench Art Trail across the city this summer.
From 8th July you will see some colourful, life size benches popping up across the city, all individually designed by UK artists. You will find them in the historic core, shopping centres, train station and in the parks and open spaces. A map will be created which you can download and follow the trail at your leisure, this can be found on the Love Cambridge website www.love-cambridge.com
Cambridge BID CEO Ian Sandison says “Following the fantastic success of our Cows about Cambridge project in 2021, we are delighted to be working again with the team from Wild in Art on this Book Bench Trail. This new trail will encourage people to visit the city and literally dwell and take some time out as they wander. We are already working with the project team on our next city-wide full trail that we intend to deliver in the spring of 2024
Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson said: “Supported with funding from the Combined Authority’s Business Board, these Book Benches are a wonderful addition to Cambridge. Making our high streets more welcoming and interesting helps support businesses and jobs, brings more money into the local economy. And investments into the cultural offering of an area is important in creating a sense of place, which in turn improves public wellbeing.”
“Well done to the Cambridge BID team on another great addition to the city, and I encourage everyone to follow the Book Bench Art Trail this summer.”
Cllr Alice Gilderdale, Executive Councillor for Recovery, Employment and Community Safety at Cambridge City Council, said: “We are delighted to support Cambridge BID and Wild in Art in bringing these fabulous Book Bench installations to Cambridge. The Book Benches form part of a wider programme of improvements, which we’ve been leading on, with the support of partners and the Combined Authority funding, to support the city’s recovery from the effects of the pandemic”.
The team at Wild in Art have developed the Book Bench Sculpture and commissioned the artists. Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder, Wild in Art said: “We are delighted to be working with Cambridge BID once again to bring these Book Benches to Cambridge. The Book Benches are a fantastic spectacle and showcase a wonderful wealth of artistic talent. We hope everyone will enjoy discovering them”.
Visit www.love-cambridge.com to download the trail map. Don’t forget to tag @lovecambridge_ in Instagram photos.
