Forty lighthouse sculptures will appear on the streets of Southampton and Cowes next summer as part of a charity art trail. 

Public art event Light the South will raise money for Southampton Children's Hospital. 

Each 8ft sculpture will stand on the streets and open spaces of the city and island town for eight weeks.

The unique masterpieces will be designed by local artists and sponsored by various businesses, creating a family-friendly trail for residents and visitors to enjoy and explore. 

Southampton Hospitals Charity has teamed up with art trail experts Wild in Art, which has previously hosted art trails in cities across the UK and worldwide for a decade, to launch the event. 

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Ellis Banfield, Southampton Hospitals Charity Director, said: "We’re thrilled to bring a spectacular art installation to Southampton and Cowes in 2024.

"Light the South will weave together the best culture, heritage, and diversity the South has to offer, and we hope our community is as excited as we are that this public event will be coming to Southampton and Cowes.

"As well as creating a brilliant adventure for families, Light the South will help Southampton Hospitals Charity to shine a light on, and raise vital funds for, our Children’s Hospital."

The sculptures will be auctioned off to raise money for Southampton Hospitals Charity to support Southampton Children’s Hospital in September 2024.

Daily Echo: A lighthouse sculpture designed by Jess Perrin

Southampton and Cowes businesses are now being invited to come on board and show their support for this community event through a range of different sponsorship packages.

Red Funnel was the first company to become one of two presenting partners for the trail.

Williams Shipping have also been named the official logistics partner. 

Schools will also be able to get involved in a whole range of creative learning activities and will even be given the chance to design and adopt their very own mini Lighthouse sculpture as 30 mini sculptures will join the trail. 

If you’re an artist, represent a business, school, college, or local community group and want to be involved, or are interested in finding out more, visit lightthesouth.co.uk