A Derby public relations agency says it is already looking forward to what promises to be a frantic bidding war for the city’s popular ram trail sculptures after it agreed to sponsor the auction where they will all be sold off.
Penguin PR, based in Ashbourne Road, has given its official support to the Derby Ram Trail auction event, which will be held at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery in the Wardwick when the trail comes to an end in September.
Thirty of the fibreglass rams are set to go under the hammer during the auction, which will be conducted by Charles Hanson, who runs Hansons Auctioneers and is a regular face on TV’s Bargain Hunt and Flog It!
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The five-foot-tall rams, each of which is sponsored by a local company or organisation, have created a huge wave of interest since they were placed at various locations around the city last month, with thousands of people using a map or phone app to track them all down.
There are 30 in all and each one has its own theme, which has been brought to life by a professional artist, resulting in a flock of colourful and often thought-provoking displays.
Proceeds raised at the auction will go towards the Derby Museums’ Endowment Fund, meaning that every penny raised will be doubled with match funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund supporting the long term future of Derby Museums.
Penguin PR director Simon Burch said: “The Derby Ram Trail has already created a huge impact in the city and it’s wonderful to see so many people visiting the rams and having their photos taken.
“What you don’t really appreciate until you get up really close to them is the skill and wonderful attention to detail that the artists have shown while painting them, which reminds you that they are each in their own way a bona fide public work of art.
“There is bound to be a huge interest owning the rams when the trail comes to an end, so we’re delighted to be sponsoring the auction and are looking forward to seeing what promises to be an evening of exciting and frantic bidding.”
The Derby Ram Trail was organised by Derby Museums in partnership with Wild in Art and sponsors of the rams include Rolls-Royce, Derby County, the University of Derby, Cosy Direct and Treetops Hospice.
Penguin PR was founded in 2010 by Simon Burch and Sarah Newton, who originally met as trainee reporters at the start of their journalism careers on the Derby Telegraph.
It employs five people and serves clients across Derbyshire and the East Midlands, raising their profile by getting them coverage in local and national media, as well as online and through social media.
The auction takes place on September 9 at 6.30pm and to register your interest visit www.derbyramtrail.org/auction.
