Created to honour and pay tribute to the ongoing courage and dedication of NHS Staff and all key workers during the pandemic and beyond, Gratitude is a public art installation conceived and produced by global public art producers, Wild in Art.

Opening in Birmingham ahead of a free to visit tour taking in Manchester, Edinburgh and London, the display of 49 uniquely designed human form sculptures, were individually designed by national and regional artists and designers to reflect the stories and contributions of key workers.

We were proud to support one such sculpture ‘The Joy of Pets’, created by illustrator Matt Joyce and is in his words “A celebration of of all the pets that have kept us company, entertained and helped with our mental wellbeing during the pandemic.”

The public were invited to submit their stories and poems paying tribute to front line medical staff, to shopkeepers and delivery drivers, carers, and teachers for a chance to be included in the Gratitude installation and via the Gratitude App and via the Gratitude website .

A selection of the stories were also recorded by a host of well-known voices including singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, Adil Ray OBE and actors Julie Hesmondhalgh, Ciarán Griffiths, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Christopher Eccleston, John Thomson and Shobna Gulati.