Unicornfest heads into its final few days of its summer series. The unicorns have been displayed in prominent locations across the city to raise money for leukaemia care, the UK’s leading leukaemia charity. The inaugural unicornfest is a public art sculpture trail success. Unicornfest began on Sunday July the 1st with the beautifully-crafted sculptures appearing outside shops, attractions and parks across the city and the wider region. Ahead of the launch, a map and phone app are being released so people can find each sculpture. The unicorns were mostly painted in the former TK Max store at the galleries by local artists.
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00:00 Welcome to the final few days of Unicorn Fest 2023.
00:04 So we're here at Prop Yard in central Bristol
00:06 and we've got all our unicorns with us.
00:08 So the unicorn is the symbol of Bristol
00:09 and obviously we brought it back to Bristol this summer.
00:11 So we've got 60, well 61 large painted unicorns
00:14 and four unicorn foals all on display this weekend
00:17 for people to enjoy for the final time.
00:18 I mean, it's been quite incredible really.
00:20 Thousands upon thousands of people have visited the trail.
00:22 We've had three worldwide visitors come and see it.
00:25 So obviously we've had nine weeks of the trail.
00:26 This weekend's the final chance for people
00:28 to see them all together.
00:29 Unicorn Fest heads into its final few days
00:32 of its summer series.
00:33 The unicorns have been displayed
00:36 in prominent locations across the city
00:38 to raise money for Leukemia Care,
00:41 the UK's leading leukemia charity.
00:43 The inaugural Unicorn Fest
00:45 is a public art sculpture trail success.
00:47 Unicorn Fest began on Sunday, July the 1st
00:50 with the beautifully crafted sculptures
00:53 appearing outside shops, attractions,
00:55 and parks across the city and the wider region.
00:59 Ahead of the launch, a map and a phone app were released
01:03 so people could find each sculpture.
01:06 The unicorns were mostly painted
01:08 in the former TK Maxx store at the galleries
01:11 by local artists.
01:12 Let's chat to Team Unicorn Fest to find out more.
01:16 The unicorn is the symbol of Bristol.
01:17 We thought, well, we'll bring it back.
01:19 The 650 years celebration of Bristol this year.
01:21 So it all felt right.
01:23 So the whole process started about 18 months ago,
01:25 two years ago.
01:26 Obviously, it's a lot of work in advance
01:28 for a nine week trail,
01:29 but obviously you get the artists involved,
01:31 lots of painting, lots of decorating,
01:33 getting all the permissions,
01:34 working with Bristol City Council,
01:35 but it all sort of culminates in the next two weeks.
01:37 I think the feedback in those art trails in general
01:40 is always better than what you expect.
01:42 I mean, people just love public art.
01:44 It's about experience as well, isn't it?
01:46 Your grandparents taking out their grandchildren,
01:49 lots of lovely days out, lots of memories.
01:51 You know, lots of people do lots of art trails.
01:53 So yeah, the feedback's been quite overwhelming actually.
01:57 As a special surprise,
01:59 one artist has been given the chance
02:01 to paint the final 60 second unicorn,
02:04 and it will be unveiled this weekend.
02:07 And it's literally just behind this piece of cloth.
02:09 Art is so important to cities.
02:12 I mean, Bristol's a really creative city anyway,
02:14 so it's brilliant to tap into that,
02:15 but it's been so joyful.
02:17 I know the weather's not been on our side,
02:18 can't help that,
02:19 but actually the people who have done the trail,
02:21 the feedback's been absolutely immense.
02:23 You know, even on days where you might think,
02:26 oh, it's just a trail,
02:27 when you see the kids' reactions,
02:28 they're so excited by the unicorns,
02:30 and that's what it's about really.
02:32 Yeah, so all these will be auctioned off
02:34 in aid of Leukaemia Care,
02:35 so the UK's leading leukaemia charity.
02:37 We're actually providing support
02:38 to all the patients across the UK,
02:39 and especially here in Bristol as well,
02:41 so we've got Bristol support services.
02:42 So in about two weeks' time,
02:44 the unicorns will be auctioned off here at Prop Yard,
02:46 5th of October.
02:47 People who are looking to buy a unicorn
02:49 will all put bids in online or in person.
02:52 I suppose it's the scary unknown part now,
02:54 because we don't know who's going to bid,
02:55 but hopefully they'll all find fantastic new homes.
02:57 One thing is for certain,
02:59 the Unicorn Fest has been a massive success
03:02 for the city of Bristol.