Amaze unveils 30 painted BookBench sculptures, turning Brighton & Hove into a story book

A brand new story-book art trail launches on the streets of Brighton & Hove this autumn. From 12 September to 8 November, this free-to-access Story Trail invites everyone to #SitWithUs at more than 30 BookBench sculptures, each individually painted by a local artist.

Organised by Amaze, the Sussex charity supporting families with disabled children, and produced in partnership with global public art producers Wild in Art, the trail is designed as a walking route through the city. Each bench is an instantly accessible piece of public art, as well as a spot to rest and a place to meet others along the way.

Every sculpture carries a unique code, which can be entered into the free app to unlock rewards, discounts and offers from Amaze partners, including magnets, Story Trail merch and colouring sheets. Although free to download, Amaze suggests a £2 app donation to help cover the cost of the trail and support its work for families with disabled children.

For those wishing to go screen-free, a £5 printed sticker book covering the same trail is available from https://amazesussex.org.uk/thestorytrail/shop/.

Alongside the large sculptures, look out for over 42 mini BookBenches which have been designed and decorated by local schools, nurseries and community groups. They will be on display at various indoor and outdoor locations, including the city’s libraries, museums, leisure centres and a number of shops.

The trail launches with a “Read Along” beside artist Fiona Blair’s BookBench sculpture in the Pavilion Gardens, next to the Pavilion Café. Children and families are invited to bring their favourite book and join the group and read along with friends and Fiona Blair – it takes place from 11am to 12.30pm. For more information and to register go to https://amazesussex.org.uk/events/story-trail-read-along/.

Hannah Albrooke, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Amaze, said:

“I’m so excited to share these beautiful new BookBench sculptures with everyone in Brighton and Hove. Our Story Trail reveals some of the incredible talent in our city and we hope that as well as providing new places to rest and recover, the BookBench sculptures will also act as a springboard for discussion and creativity. We work with families with disabled children, so inclusivity is crucial, hence the trail has been designed to be fully accessible for everyone.”

Sally Polanski, Chief Executive at Amaze, added:

“This is Amaze’s first art trail, and we’re delighted to finally unveil these individually painted sculptures and invite everyone to discover them for themselves. All money raised through the app, book sales, sponsorship and our November auction will help our families with disabled children. It costs three times more to raise a child with a disability, so every penny donated makes a huge difference to families across Sussex.”

Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder, Wild in Art said:

“The Story Trail is a wonderful example of how public art can bring creativity into the places where people live, work and play. Each BookBench has its own personality, thanks to the fantastic artists who have transformed these sculptures into individual works of art. This trail is a brilliant way for people to explore Brighton and Hove, discover inspiring public art, and support Amaze at the same time.”

The Story Trail is produced in partnership with global art producers Wild in Art.

For more information, visit amazesussex.org.uk/thestorytrail.