Sitting with Jane

Wild in Art is a leading creative producer of spectacular, mass-appeal public art events, which connect businesses, artists and communities through the power of creativity and innovation. Wild in Art have partnered with Destination Basingstoke to bring uniquely designed and painted BookBenches to Basingstoke as part of Sitting With Jane — a public art trail to celebrate novelist Jane Austen’s connections with Basingstoke and her birthplace, Steventon. How many of the 24 BookBenches will you find?

Jane Austen is one of the world’s most famous novelists, with the places, people and landscapes of Basingstoke and its surroundings having an enormous influence on her novels. This connection isn’t well-known, but Sitting With Jane looks set to change this.

Formed as part of a global commemoration of her life, and marking the 200th anniversary of her death, each BookBench features a 3D canvas design from a professional artist with their personal interpretation of a Jane Austen theme. The BookBenches then link together on a trail.

All 24 BookBenches will be in place between June 17th 2017 and August 31st 2017, with trail-seekers able to keep track on them all on this free app and a handy trail guide.

After the event, each BookBench will be auctioned on Friday September 15th at the Ark Conference Centre in aid of charity partner Ark Cancer Centre Charity, whose team is raising £5 million to build a 21st century cancer treatment centre.

Become a tourist in your own region by downloading the app and joining the Sitting With Jane trail today!