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Last summer the city of Bath became home to 100 lion sculptures each decorated by artists and featuring an array of different colours and a huge variety of artistic styles.  All but three have now been sold at auction and an astounding £60,000 raised for charity.

Despite the recession the Lions of Bath project has managed to raise a fantastic £60,000 for local, national and international charities.  In the process the Lions of Bath have helped to promote the local businesses who so kindly sponsored each animal as well as the artists who made them look so wonderful.  Media coverage has helped increase footfall to the city as this project, which brought contemporary art to the streets, has helped to promote Bath as an exciting, vibrant city to visit.  Thousands of children and their families enjoyed tracking the lions, a free, fun educational experience for the summer months.

A number of the lion artists have either won or been nominated for major awards for their work on the project, and one, Leroy Harding, was offered a place at City of Bath College owing to the strength of his design.

The money raised will be spent on a variety of projects, both locally and further afield.  ‘Off the Record’, a charity working with young carers has received the funding for a full-time worker to support its work.  A group working with young people in the Bath area, the Quartet Community Foundation, has received a grant of £13,500 to fund community projects.  A £3000 donation has been made to the Mayor of Bath’s Relief Fund, which offers support to local families who have fallen on hard times.  The Born Free Foundation in Kenya will receive £15,000 to build a series of lion-proof enclosures which will protect both lions and people.  Finally the wildlife charity Tusk will receive a donation of £1,500.  Money raised from the sale of the three remaining lions will be distributed amongst local charities.

The organisers of The Lions of Bath are delighted at the success of the project, which brought businesses, the arts and the community together; and homes as close as Bath and as far afield as Texas are thrilled to be welcoming their new leonine acquisitions.

To find out more about the Lions of Bath, and about the three sculptures still available, visit www.lionsofbath.com.