Slapstick video sketches, Instagram images and Facebook campaign invite viewers to visit Bristol
www.VisitBristol.co.uk/gromit #GromitUnleashed
A series of online films featuring one of the world’s best-loved animated characters, Gromit, has be unveiled as part of a campaign to promote Bristol as a fabulous summer destination for a short break.
Commissioned by Destination Bristol, the film stars a five-foot sculpture of Gromit, one of 80 created by artists and designers making up a major new public art trail called Gromit Unleashed, organised by Aardman Animations with charity partner The Grand Appeal.
Each Gromit on the trail, set to hit the streets of Bristol this summer, is being designed by celebrities and artists.
Kelly Ballard, Head of Marketing at Destination Bristol, says:
“Having the world’s first Gromit trail is a fantastic coup for Bristol. Gromit is one of many Bristol icons and is much-loved among global audiences, so we wanted to create a film using him to showcase the city’s great landmarks and destinations.
“The aim is to inspire people from across the UK and beyond to come and sample the city’s heritage, attractions and creative vibe. Gromit Unleashed forms a key element of Destination Bristol’s 2013 marketing campaigns which are part of a three-year tourism marketing investment project led by Visit England and funded by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.”
The film is supported by three one-act comedy sketches, showcasing some of Bristol’s landmark locations and characters, to be posted on Facebook weekly throughout June. I
The film’s soundtrack, created exclusively for Gromit Unleashed by Bristol dance floor legends Boca 45, is entitled Lafayette Party Time, and will be available to download this summer.
All video and creative will be live on Visit Bristol’s Facebook page, from where it will be amplified via Twitter #GromitUnleashed and #VisitBristol.
About Gromit Unleashed
Gromit Unleashed is a new public art exhibition, hitting the streets of Bristol on 1st July for ten weeks this summer to raise funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal. Spearheaded by Aardman Animations, the art trail will feature around 80 giant, 5ft tall sculptures of Aardman’s world-famous animated character, Gromit. Each sculpture will sport a unique design created by a prestigious line-up of artists, including internationally-renowned names. Set to become a major UK tourist attraction this year, the giant Gromits will take up residence in key locations in Bristol and beyond, before being auctioned off in October to raise funds for the Grand Appeal.
All the money raised will go towards supporting the expansion of Bristol Children’s Hospital, one of the leading multi- disciplinary children’s hospitals in the UK. The Grand Appeal has pledged to raise an initial £3.5 million for state-of-the-art equipment, including an intraoperative MRI scanner, family facilities and child-friendly artwork. Wild in Art, a leading arts and education company which stages mass participation events in cities, is working with the Grand Appeal to deliver the project. Visit www.gromit-unleashed.org.uk for more information.
