Above: Watch the unveiling of The Big Sleuth project

Remember the Big Hoot?

Held in 2015, it was Brum’s biggest public art event and was created by Wild in Art in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The project is making a comeback in 2017 - but this time as The Big Sleuth featuring sculptures of bears.

The Big Hoot consisted of 89 owls, each 5ft 5ins and individually decorated, on a trail across Birmingham, as well as another 122 owlets decorated by schools. The trail stretched 94 miles from start to finish.

It attracted huge interest from people in the city and much further afield.

The statues were then auctioned in aid of the children’s hospital.

They won't be coming back but the concept is indeed being revived, in a different form.

Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity and Wild in Art are launching a sequel to The Big Hoot this time using sun bears instead of owls.
The event is called The Big Sleuth. At the launch are (back, from left) Danny O'Neill and Kevin Haggett, and (front, from left) Omar Aziz, Jackie Somerville, Michelle McLoughlin, Sarah Taylor, Georgina Harlow and Louise McCathie
Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity and Wild in Art are launching a sequel to The Big Hoot this time using sun bears instead of owls. The event is called The Big Sleuth. At the launch are (back, from left) Danny O'Neill and Kevin Haggett, and (front, from left) Omar Aziz, Jackie Somerville, Michelle McLoughlin, Sarah Taylor, Georgina Harlow and Louise McCathie

This year's big art event has been book benches, which have been dotted around Birmingham.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital and creative producers Wild in Art today announced that another trail is planned for summer 2017, but this time the colourful characters will be sun bears instead of owls.

The sun bear, also called the honey bear, is found in the rainforests of Asia and has a distinctive golden crescent on its chest.

It has been chosen because it is the smallest of the world’s eight bear species – making it the ideal choice for the children’s hospital to help it raise vital funds when the bears go to auction.

The new project - named The Big Sleuth because a sleuth is the collective noun for a group of bears - will see the individually designed sculptures appearing throughout the city, inspiring residents and tourists to uncover Birmingham’s cultural gems and discover areas of the city they have not explored before.

Funded by companies across the region, the sculptures will be brought to life by local and national artists to create the visually stunning trail of art.

Sponsors of the Big Hoot are already involved in the project, but additional businesses are being sought to ensure The Big Sleuth is a roaring success.

At the launch of The Big Sleuth are (back, from left) Omar Aziz, Jackie Somerville, Sarah Taylor, Kevin Haggett, with (front, from left) Danny O'Neill and Georgina Harlow
At the launch of The Big Sleuth are (back, from left) Omar Aziz, Jackie Somerville, Sarah Taylor, Kevin Haggett, with (front, from left) Danny O'Neill and Georgina Harlow

Michelle McLoughlin, Chief Nursing Officer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said: "The Big Sleuth is really important to Birmingham Children’s Hospital as not only will it inspire civic pride and give families another opportunity to get active on a free and fun day out, but we also hope to raise over half a million pounds to support the pioneering work we do here each day.

"We are at the beginning of another really exciting journey with this project, one which we hope will bring lots of sleuthing, joy and laughter to our city, and we would encourage our corporate friends to help us make it bigger and better than The Big Hoot."

Sally-Ann Wilkinson, director of Wild in Art, said: "We are delighted to premiere our Sun Bear sculpture in Birmingham.

"The sculpture has been purposefully designed to act as a 3D canvas for artists, communities and young people to bring to life with the many hundreds of unique designs showcasing the city’s creativity, heritage and spirit of fun.

One of the new bear sculptures that will be transformed by local artists for The Big Sleuth
One of the new bear sculptures that will be transformed by local artists for The Big Sleuth

"We are so excited to be working with Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity to deliver an event that will bring art to the streets and public spaces across Birmingham and enable thousands of people to enjoy the wonderful world of technicolour and creativity."

She added: "Sponsorship packages are still available and we hope the city’s industries and businesses together with its cultural providers will recognise the benefits of getting involved as well as the positives for the local community and the hospital."

The hospital charity aims for The Big Sleuth to be bigger and better than its predecessor, but needs the support of local companies to take up one of several sponsorship packages to allow the trail to cover as many of Birmingham’s ‘B’ postcode as possible. Packages start from £6,000.

Last year 78 per cent of visitors stated that The Big Hoot was their main reason for being in Birmingham. Collectively, these visitors spent an additional £8 million directly as a result.

Paul Faulkner, Chief Executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, added: "The Big Hoot was a fantastic experience for Birmingham, not only in raising valuable funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital but also in terms of helping to lift the city's profile as well as the spirits and health of those who participated in tracking down all the different owls.

"We are incredibly proud to see it return as The Big Sleuth as it will once again bring Birmingham together in a fun, creative and different way. The Chamber is proud to support the children’s hospital and The Big Sleuth, and we are very excited to meet our bear! I'd certainly encourage businesses to get involved by supporting The Big Sleuth and playing their part in a great initiative."