Hope the Hedgehog
Bringing joy and connection
Hope the Hedgehog isn’t just any puppet. She’s a symbol of creativity and community spirit designed to engage and entertain people of all ages. In Spring 2024, we proudly unveiled Hope in Rotherham, and she’s been busy ever since, spreading joy and sparking important conversations wherever she goes.
Hope launched at the Wath Festival on the 4th May, 2024, captivating everyone with her whimsical charm and playful spirit. The feedback from the community was heartwarming, with so many expressing their excitement and love for our unique hedgehog experience.
Artful craftsmanship and detailed design
Hope the Hedgehog is a captivating creation, reflecting the skill and creativity of the artists that made her. She represents a significant achievement in puppet design, with careful attention to detail to ensure she comes to life in the most engaging way possible. From the intricately crafted forest on her back to her warm and expressive face, Hope's design highlights the thoughtfulness that went into her creation. The collaborative efforts of our team, led by artist Andrew Kim, have produced a puppet that not only captures attention but also conveys a narrative of environmental mindfulness and community unity.
Meet Hope
Hope the Hedgehog is Artful’s larger than life walkabout puppet!
Created through an Artist Masterclass with the incredibly talented Andrew Kim and a team of artists, Hope has been crafted from recycled materials to delight and inspire communities far and wide.
“My kids loved interacting with Hope, it also sparked lots of conversations about the future on the way home” — Parent
Interactivity and engagement
Hope’s journey isn’t just about spectacle; it’s about creating meaningful connections. During her appearances, our talented puppeteers invite audiences to join in on the fun. They carry with them paper leaves and pens, encouraging people to write down their ‘hope for the future’. These heartfelt messages are then added to the ‘Forest of Hope’ adorning Hope’s back, creating a growing tapestry of dreams and aspirations from people across the community.
“Hope’s gentle nature and appearance made her appear more approachable than other puppets and we got lots of interaction from all ages” — Event organiser
How can Hope attend my event?
We would love community events and festivals all over the country to experience Hope the Hedgehog and add to her Forest of Hope. To invite Hope to your event, please get in touch via hello@artfulonline.org or the button below for a bespoke quote and pricing.
Some things to consider:
Hope will always need at least one additional performer to accompany her, but we recommend two additional performers and a musician to really add the wow factor to Hope’s appearance for larger events
Hope prefers to be outdoors but if the weather gets too wild for hedgehogs then she may need to be somewhere inside.
Hope makes appearances of 30–45 minutes at a time but will make multiple appearances throughout the day and these can be discussed with event coordinators for peak times.
