Aardman Announce Charity Art Auction to Support ‘Aardriders’ Charity Fundraising
Aardman have today announced that it will be auctioning 28 lots of original and limited edition art to raise funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital charity The Grand Appeal.
The auction will begin on the evening of Sunday 10th September and run for seven days ending on 17th September with artwork ranging from original character studies and full colour paintings to sculptures and original props from some of Aardman’s biggest productions.
David Sproxton, Aardman Co-founder and Executive Chairman said:
This is a brilliant opportunity to purchase some extraordinary Aardman artefacts for a cause close to our hearts, The Grand Appeal
Enthusiasts and collectors will be able to get their hands on pieces from the Academy Award® winning studio’s stable of talented filmmakers, artists and model makers including Nick Park (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run), Peter Lord (Chicken Run, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists) and Richard Starzak (Shaun the Sheep Movie). Items up for bidding include an original drawing of Morph signed by Pete Lord, a unique artwork by Aardman veteran Andy James which brings together iconic Aardman characters, as well as a selection of framed props from the 2012 hit film ‘The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists’. Also included in the auction are a number of items from projects outside of the studio created by our talented model makers and staff.
This is a rare and exciting opportunity for fans to be able to own their very own stunning piece of Aardman memorabilia whilst donating money to an incredibly important fundraising campaign. All proceeds from the art sale will go towards the charity’s Emergency Department Appeal which will transform Bristol Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department. The department treats around 40,000 ill and injured babies and children every year, and as the Major Trauma Centre for the South West, has around 800,000 children in its care from Land’s End up to Swindon.
Nicola Masters, Director of The Grand Appeal commented:
For over 20 years we have had such a special relationship with Aardman. Not only do we work with the studio’s incredible characters, we’re very lucky that the Aardman team has been so engaged in fundraising throughout this time. This auction is a brilliant opportunity to acquire some one-of-a-kind art, while also raising money for sick children and babies across the South West.
The auction, hosted on eBay, can be accessed here from 9pm on Sunday 10th September. The auction is part of the fundraising effort by the studio to support its team of cyclists – ‘The Aardriders’ – who will be taking part in The Grand Appeal’s unique Land’s End to Bristol cycle from 21st – 24th September.
The Aardriders are; Claire Cohen, Craig Atkinson, David Sproxton, Jez Parr, Kitty Clay, Michael Salter, Nathan Sale and Richard Edmunds.