Innovative Bluetooth technology developed by Bath firm Blispa will make this summer’s Minerva’s Owls public sculpture trail in the city the UK’s first fully interactive attraction of its kind.
Beacons from the firm will allow visitors to interact with the super-sized owl sculptures that will perch around Bath and surrounding towns between June and September. 
Visitors will be able to download a free app that will enable them to find out about each owl’s sponsor, artist and other information simply by directing their mobile device at the sculpture.
There will also be interactive quizzes and links to the sponsors’ and artists’ websites.
Batheaston-based Blispa’s innovative technology will allow sponsors to create special offers exclusively for those who visit their owl.
The app will also provide valuable data for sponsors, including footfall statistics relating to their owl, and the extra traffic the trail generates for their website, making it easier for sponsors to capitalise on the extra visitors expected to flock to Bath during the three months of the trail.
Blispa specialises in creating apps triggered by location and is behind the Bath Directory. Its clients include Wiltshire’s acclaimed WOMAD world music festival and Bath Fringe festival.
Director Michael Youngman, pictured above with the app, said: “It’s been exciting to use our technology at Blispa to add an extra dimension of adventure for visitors to the Minerva’s Owls of Bath trail.
“We want visitors to have fun exploring the city as well as give them the chance to interact with the generous owl sponsors and talented artists involved.
“The idea is that owl fans wake up all the sleeping owls by interacting with them as they track down the flock around the city.”
More than 100 individually decorated owl and owlet sculptures will be displayed in public spaces in and around Bath from June to early September.
A number of businesses have already signed up to back the trail, including regional accountancy firm MHA Monahans, which is a Gold sponsor and will have two owls – one outside its Bath base and one at its Frome office.
Other backers include headline sponsor SouthGate Bath and Gold sponsors Norland College, Bath BID, car dealer Allen Ford and the Bath Percent Club.
Businesses interested in joining them are invited to a drinks reception next Wednesday, April 18, to find out how they can get involved.
The event is between 6pm and 8pm at Spaces, Northgate House, Upper Borough Walls. For more information or to download a sponsorship pack, visit the Minerva’s Owls website at www.minervasowls.org or contact the Owl team at info@minervasowls.org
