After seven years the hugely popular statue trail is back
The first sculptures unveiled for the Gromit Unleashed sculpture trail, set to take place next summer(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
There are just 10 weeks to go until the colourful new characters for the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail will be spread around Bristol for people to enjoy.
The Grand Appeal, in partnership with Aardman will open the trail on June 30 for two months, until August 31.
Some of the sculptures were unveiled in early November, but the Grand Appeal said more designs will be released closer to the trail opening.
Gromiteers (a term coined in 2013 for visitors to the trail) can expect an array of designs including famous names, fable and story characters, movies and more.
Bristol Live previously reported the unveiling of the characters for the trail . This featured Norbot the smart gnome, from Aardman’s latest feature film ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’, being revealed as the new addition to the trail.
Norbot is Wallace’s mysterious new invention in the film and was shown as a clay model at the unveiling.
The other three characters revealed were fan favourites Feathers McGraw, Wallace and Gromit.
A brand-new prototype sculpture has been unveiled – Norbot the smart gnome – Norbot is Wallace’s enigmatic new invention from ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’ and will join the character line-up for the first time in 2025.(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Designed and painted by The Grand Appeal’s creative lead, Emily Golden, ‘King of Diamonds’ is a playful Feathers McGraw that looks like it could have jumped straight from the pages of Lewis Carrol’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’.
Meanwhile, Wallace takes on a whole new character channelling epic historical stories of Roman soldiers and heroic gladiators, created by local set and scenic artists, Mawford Arts.
Gromit, on the other hand, is ready to light up the dancefloors with a creation by mosaic artist Lizzie Tucker.
The Gromit Unleashed trails have been in partnership with The Grand Appeal for 30 years and have raised money for the charity.
The grand Appeal works with the Bristol Children’s Hospital charity and Cots for Tots, the dedicated charity for the National Intensive Care Ward at St Michael’s Hospital.
The sculptures are funded by local businesses and go on to be sold at auction to raise further money for the Grand Appeal.
Sean Clarke, managing director at Aardman said: “The money raised provides direct support for sick and critically ill children and their families; funding life-saving medical equipment, ground-breaking research, family accommodation, and art, music and play programmes.”
Wallace ‘A grand Tribute’ is delivered to Millennium Square – Gromit Unleashed 2
Since the series started in 2013, Gromit Unleashed has generated more than £20 million for The Grand Appeal.
What started as a one-off sculpture trail a decade ago has evolved into an iconic and much-loved brand, spanning collectable giftware, a major online and in-store retail outlet, and multiple trails, exhibitions, events, auctions and activities worldwide.
The original trail of Bristol’s most popular pup back in the summer of 2013 attracted 1.2 million visitors and raised £2.3 million at auction alone.
It took the city by storm back then, but event trail organisers at The Grand Appeal had no idea just how much of a phenomenon it would become – with over 500 sculptures and four different trails.
Following its enormous initial success, Gromit Unleashed went global with a trip to Hong Kong. The Grand Appeal teamed up with Aardman to create 70 new spectacular sculptures in a first outside the UK.
Then came Shaun in the City in 2015 in Bristol and London, then Gromit Unleashed 2 took Bristol by storm in 2018.
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