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 crocheted 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:

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. For more information

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.