A glittering launch event was held to celebrate the fundraising arts trail Snowdogs by the Sea which will see 44 individually-designed Snowdog statues dotted around the city.
The Snowdogs By The Sea (Photograph: Simon Dack / Vervate)
The event has been organised by Wild in Art, raising money for Martlets Hospice.
Brighton resident and DJ Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, got to meet his very own Snowdog, Boomer, created by well known street artist, RYCA. Author, Peter James, also enjoyed introducing his fans to a rather special Snowdog by the name of GRRRace.
Imelda Glackin, CEO of Martlets Hospice, said: “We are delighted to bring this public art event to Brighton and Hove. We have been overwhelmed by the support of businesses, artists, community groups and schools who have all come together to enable us to create this unique trail. We know that the people of Brighton and Hove will get behind it, and we expect it to attract thousands of tourists to the city too. What is wonderful about this project is that as well as being a brilliant, free event, which everyone can enjoy, it will also raise vital funds for Martlets so that we can support and care for more people who need hospice care.”
Fatboy Slim and his Snowdog (Photograph: Simon Dack / Vervate)
There are 44 giant Snowdogs as part of Snowdogs by the Sea. 43 of them are in Brighton and Hove whilst the 44th Snowdog, ‘Brighton Belle’, named after the iconic Pullman, will head to London to brighten up Victoria Station for the duration of the trail. The 45th Snowdog, the big surprise of the night, was a giant sand sculpture, commissioned by Brighton Marina, made from 20 tons of sand and five days to create, taking pride of place in Marina Square throughout the event.
Speaking about their involvement in the event, Kirsty Pollard, general manager from Brighton Marina said: “We are delighted to be able to host the launch event for such a worthwhile and exceptional art trail in aid of the Martlets. It has been great to see and to host the first sighting of some of the Snowdogs and we can’t wait to see the rest as they appear throughout the city. It is with pride and pleasure that Brighton Marina has managed to sponsor three of the Snowdogs along with our bespoke Sand Dog, I look forward to seeing everyone visit and we hope that everyone enjoys the art trail.”
Peter James and Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp (Photograph: Simon Dack / Vervate)
Residents of Brighton and Hove will start to see the Snowdogs appear on the streets from tomorrow (Friday) with the official launch being on Saturday, September 24.
The sculpture trail was inspired by the animated film, The Snowman™ and The Snowdog which was based on the original book by Raymond Briggs. The Snowdogs by the Sea Trail will run until November 27. The giant Snowdogs will also be joined by a pack of 24 snow puppies designed by Brighton school children. These colourful creations will be on show at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Hove Museum and the Booth Museum of Natural History, Hove Library and Jubilee Library throughout the event.
There will be a series of participatory events during the trail, such as Pooches on the Prom, Snowdog Dash and a festive farewell event on the first weekend in December, where the Snowdogs can be seen together for the first and final time. To find out more, visit: www.snowdogsbythesea.co.uk
A trail map and Snowdogs by the Sea App, sponsored by Visit Brighton, will also be available to enable people to discover all the sculptures and ‘unlock’ special offers and unique content.
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