Pupils unleash creativity for Gromit Unleashed 3

As school doors reopen for the start of the new term, an army of Norbots are being moved to the Greatest Dog Show on Earth from the 100 schools taking part in the Gromit Unleashed activity this year.

Since May, pupils across the South West have been taking part in an artistic adventure, unleashing their creativity in celebration of the much-loved sculpture trail by designing individual Norbot sculptures from the award-winning film Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl while raising money for The Grand Appeal, the dedicated charity for Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The Norbots will go on display for the first and only time, as part of The Greatest Dog Show on Earth 3, in the Gromit Unleashed Pavilion at Cribbs Mall from Saturday 13 to Sunday 28 September, after which the sculptures will return to their schools, taking pride of place in receptions and classrooms across the region.

The Gromit Unleashed 3 Schools Programme is proudly sponsored by The John James Bristol Foundation. Alongside sponsoring the programme, the Foundation has also generously provided funding for 10 city centre schools to design their own Norbot sculptures.

Westbury Little Foxes School CREDIT Nicola Lester

Stephanie Benson, Community Fundraising Manager at The Grand Appeal, said, “It’s amazing to see all the finished designs with incredible imagination on display. Giving students the chance to design their own Norbots has not only sparked their creativity, while being an important part of the Gromit Unleashed 3 experience

“What makes it even more special is that so many pupils and schools from across the region are raising money to support The Grand Appeal, many of whom have a personal connection to Bristol Children’s Hospital. It’s inspiring to see young people get creative while fundraising for a cause that means so much to so many. We are so grateful to the John James Bristol Foundation for their generosity in sponsoring the schools activity.”

Allowing their inspiration and creativity to run free, the children of Westbury Little Foxes School and The Park Centre, amongst many more, have been working hard to design their own Norbot - the smart gnome.

The Park Centre’s creation, named Sir Sparkle Bot, is about heart, as well as art. It’s vibrant colours and sparkling jewels symbolise the amazing people supported by The Park every day and marks the school’s silver jubilee.

Meanwhile, emerging from the woodlands of Little Foxes Forest school, is FoxBot. A forest school Gnome with wildlife conservation at the top of his 'to-do' list. Whether hunting for bugs, scavenging natural treasures or embracing the flora and fauna of Westbury Wildlife Park. Armed with binoculars and a spade, he is at the helm of the next generation of eco legends, in their yellow coats, The Little Foxes.

Nicola Prosser, Chief Executive, The John James Bristol Foundation, adds; “We’re incredibly proud to support the Gromit Unleashed 3 Schools Programme as part of this much-loved arts trail. Gromit Unleashed 3 is a fantastic way to bring creativity into the classroom, and it’s been inspiring to see pupils across Bristol design their very own Norbot sculptures. This support continues our long-standing relationship with The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children's Hospital Charity.”

The production of the school-sized Norbots was managed by Devon-based Lifesize Models. It’s founders, Rachel and Chris Sims, have been fundraising for The Grand Appeal for the last five years, following their daughter’s birth.

In 2020, Rachel and Chris’s daughter, Josie, was born with a rare and complex heart condition. Josie was able to undergo a life-saving heart operation at four months old. During this period, Rachel and Chris moved into Cots for Tots House, one of the charity’s home-from-home accommodation facilities, allowing them to remain close to Josie during this incredibly difficult time, and build their special connection with the charity.

The Greatest Dog Show on Earth 3 takes place from Saturday 13th to Sunday 28th September, at Cribbs Mall. It will be the last time to see all of the wonderful creations before they go to auction, and the only time to see them all together. Tickets are available from: https://www.grandappeal.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/events/the-greatest-dog-show-on-earth-3/

Gromit Unleashed 3 is the fourth sculpture trail created by The Grand Appeal and Aardman to raise money for the charity to support Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Gromit Unleashed is now an iconic and much-loved brand, spanning collectable giftware, a major online and in-store retail outlet at Cribbs Mall, and multiple unmissable trails, exhibitions, events, auctions, and activities worldwide.

This year, The Grand Appeal and Aardman celebrate a 30-year partnership of Wallace & Gromit spearheading the charity’s fundraising. The partnership was first conceived in 1995 to help raise money to build the Bristol Children’s Hospital on Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol. Since then, The Grand Appeal has generated £90 million for Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity and the Neonatal Intensive Care Ward at St Michael’s Hospital.

To keep up to date with the latest news from The Grand Appeal and Gromit Unleashed 3, visit www.gromitunleashed.org.uk and follow @TheGrandAppeal across Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube and @GromitUnleashed on Facebook and X.