Time to say baa-bye - farewell weekend for city’s Shaun by the Sea trail
Locals and visitors have a final chance to see all 120 sculptures from the Shaun By The Sea art trail in one location before the artworks are auctioned off in aid of Sussex hospice charity Martlets. The farewell weekend takes place at the Brighton Centre from 24 to 26 November - tickets can be bought here for £7.50 (adults), £3.50 (children) or £20 (group of four), with all proceeds going to Martlets.
The ewe-nique artist-painted Shaun the Sheep sculptures were on display in locations across the city between September and early November and have proved a huge hit with the public. The trail app has been downloaded more than 11,000 times, with thousands of people ticking off the sculptures they have spotted and winning rewards from different locations.
Now, Martlets is offering people the opportunity to see the whole flock together at its Farewell Weekend, taking place in the Brighton Centre from 24 to 26 November. The show unites each of the 41 large Shaun sculptures, a Shaun-inspired book bench from Jubilee Library, a roving Shaun and 77 small Shaun sculptures designed and decorated by local schools, nurseries, community groups and care homes. Visitors can also join a workshop and make their very own Shaun the Sheep to take home (£6 per model).
The three-day event is the last time the sculptures will be on public display. The unique works are set to be auctioned off at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange on 27 November when they are expected to raise upwards of £250,000 for the charity.
Martlets’ Director of Income Generation Tanya Hunt says: “We’re thrilled by the phenomenal response to Shaun by The Sea. This is the third art trail we’ve run in the city and it has been the most popular so far. It’s been wonderful to see how much joy it’s brought to people.
“Now we’re hoping for record-breaking results when the sculptures are auctioned. Each Shaun is a unique work of art so we’re anticipating a lot of interest. Every penny raised is money we can use to continue our work providing life-changing hospice care in the local community,” added Tanya Hunt.
The auction takes place at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange at 6.30pm on 27 November with tickets priced at £20 each and can be bought here. People interested in bidding online can also register here. Due to high demand, space is limited and Martlets asks that only serious bidders register an interest in attending. Bidding is anticipated to start at £3,000 for each sculpture.