Unicornfest: The sculpture trail to bring ‘colour and fun’ to Bristol in the name of charity

The unicorns will be displayed in prominent locations across the city next year
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Leukaemia Care, the UK’s leading leukaemia charity, is launching its inaugural Unicornfest, a public art sculpture trail, in Bristol.

Set to become the city’s latest iconic arts trail, Unicornfest 2023 will see a giant herd of unicorns, decorated by Bristol artists and schools’ creatives displayed in prominent locations across the city from July 1 to September 3 next year.

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The trail will be announced at an exclusive unveiling event at Circomedia in Bristol this evening, where Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees is set to unveil the first of the ‘life-sized’ unicorns and foals, decorated by Bristol artist Jenny Urquhart, graffiti artist Inkie and children from St Werburgh’s Park Nursey school.

Unicornfest will be part of the 650th anniversary celebrations for Bristol becoming a city and county independent of Gloucestershire and Somerset.

The trail hopes to unite the business and creative sectors, as well as local communities and schools across Bristol and the surrounding area, bringing art, colour and fun to the streets of the city next year.

“The aim of this exciting, high profile, public art event is to celebrate Bristol’s unique heritage and creativity, engage the local community, lift spirits, and raise awareness of leukaemia,” said Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, Chief Executive Officer of Leukaemia Care.

The unicorn statues will be located at various locations around the city next yearThe unicorn statues will be located at various locations around the city next year
The unicorn statues will be located at various locations around the city next year
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“Bristol has a long history with unicorns and we want to recognise that through fantastic artwork and storytelling about the city.”

Unicornfest is offering local businesses the chance to be directly involved with the initiative via event and sculpture sponsorship.

Talented local and regional artists, designers and crafts people are invited to submit their unicorn design ideas. These will be shortlisted and combined into a ‘Unicorn Artists’ portfolio, which sponsors can browse and select their favourite unicorn designs.

The high profile, nine-week trail will end with a Unicornfest Auction Preview Festival for unicorn fans of all ages to say their final farewells before the unicorns are auctioned off to raise funds for Leukaemia Care.

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Mr Pemberton-Whiteley said: “We’re looking forward to working with businesses, schools and community groups to bring this exciting trail to life. As well as the many fantastic promotional benefits that being a sponsor brings, you will also be helping to raise money for Leukaemia Care and enabling us to continue our work supporting anybody who is affected by a diagnosis of leukaemia.”

The trail will also feature a mini herd of school foals that will be exclusively available to schools, community groups and charities to decorate and display.

The event already has the backing of a host of creative minds and talents in Bristol including Rocketmakers, Purplefish, Bridging Histories, Bristol Ideas, Visit West and Business West, and there are plenty more opportunities for local businesses and organisations to get involved.

There are several Unicornfest sponsorship packages available, including Gold and Platinum packages, Presentation Partner and overall ‘mane’ event sponsorship.

For more information about how you can get involved, you can download the sponsor pack at www.theunicornfest.co.uk.

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