Shaun the Sheep’s raison d’etre is to cause a little bit of mischief. But the woolly stop-motion character is at the centre of a political row in his home city of Bristol.
A flock of 70 brightly-coloured Shaun sculptures (a “ewe-nique” public art trail, according to the publicity blurb) is to be installed across Bristol in the summer as part of a charity fundraising effort.
But some residents in the east of the city, which includes several of Bristol’s most deprived areas, believe they will not be getting their fair share of the Shauns.
The Bristol East MP, Kerry McCarthy, is leading the campaign for the statues to be more evenly distributed, claiming it was another example of attractions aimed at visitors rather than local people.
Another Bristol thing aimed at tourists, who won't venture beyond centre, rather than kids living in places like BS5 #ShareTheShauns
— Kerry McCarthy (@KerryMP) May 18, 2015
McCarthy also claimed more affluent areas were able to grab Shauns because they had the cash to sponsor them.
Apparently the #ShareTheShauns distribution is all down to sponsorship, £7k per sheep. So that's why places without money don't get them.
— Kerry McCarthy (@KerryMP) May 18, 2015
Disparity in the spread of Shaun was highlighted by the B24/7 website which pointed out that leafy neighbourhoods such as Clifton were hosting mini-flocks of the sheep while some inner-city areas such as Easton were missing out completely.
The sheep sculptures are to be auctioned off to raise funds for Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity and the Grand Appeal, supporting children in hospitals across the UK.
A spokesperson said the row was distracting from the real point: to raise money for charity.
The spokesperson said: “All 70 Shaun the Sheep sculptures are sponsored by private sponsors – local businesses and organisations – and we are very grateful for their kind support, without which we would not be able to deliver this free event.
“By supporting our trail, each of our sponsors is helping the Grand Appeal maximise funds raised for Bristol children’s hospital.
The spokesperson said organisers had learned lessons from a hugely successful similar trail featuring Gromit, from the famed double act Wallace & Gromit.
“When selecting the locations for the Shaun in the City trail sculptures in Bristol, we listened to feedback following our Gromit Unleashed trail in 2013,” the spokesperson added.
“Locations on the trail are not dictated by postcode. The spread of locations throughout the city balances the interests of Bristol residents and communities, tourists and visitors to the city, and the sponsors of our trail.
“We have worked closely with our individual sponsors and the locations themselves to make the trail happen.
“In some instances sponsors have chosen their location, and in others we have brought together locations and sponsors to create the trail.”
