This summer marks 10 years since the first Gromit Unleashed trail and to celebrate, The Grand Appeal and Aardman have revealed that the next sculpture trail will be hitting the streets of Bristol in 2025.
The new Gromit Unleashed trail will come hot on the heels of Aardman’s new Wallace & Gromit feature film, set for release in 2024.
The original 80-strong sculpture trail of Bristol’s most popular pup in the Summer of 2013 attracted 1.2 million visitors and raised an astonishing £2.3 million at auction alone. While it took the city by storm a decade ago, event trail organisers, The Grand Appeal didn’t realise what a phenomenon this would become.
Since 2013, Gromit Unleashed has generated over £20 million for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
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 unmissable trails, exhibitions, events, auctions and activities worldwide.
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.
Nicola Masters, director of The Grand Appeal, comments: “We had no idea in 2013 that Gromit Unleashed would grow into the global brand it is now. Personally, it’s one that is incredibly close to my heart. It’s been nearly 30 years since The Grand Appeal was founded. In that time, there have been so many career-defining moments – but Gromit Unleashed has stolen its fair share of them!
“I will never forget the moment the first Gromits arrived in the city on the back of the steam train driven by Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park at the M-Shed; the 6-hour-long queue to see the Greatest Dog Show on Earth exhibition at the former Habitat store in Clifton or the elation we all felt as the very first sculpture went under the hammer at our auction at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway.
“Now, we are ready to embrace Bristol’s pioneering, innovative, creative spirit and Gromit’s inventiveness to deliver a new sculpture trail in Bristol in 2025, with our partners at Aardman.”
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, comments: “The Grand Appeal has raised around £80 milion o help build and support Bristol Children’s Hospital since 1995, so it’s cracking that another Gromit Unleashed trail will take place across Bristol in 2025. Undoubtedly this will be another brilliant addition to out city’s summer calendar. I’m sure fellow Bristolians will be excited to see the newest designs of Aardman’s iconic characters out on our streets before they are auctioned to hopefully raise millions more for such an inspiring charity.”
Planning for the hotly anticipated 2025 trail is now underway. The Grand Appeal plans to announce further details in due course. But, in the meantime, sponsors, artists and those wishing to get involved in Gromit Unleased 2025 should visit: www.gromitunleashed.org.uk
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