Over 300 people gathered at Brighton’s iconic Metropole Hotel to see all 50 unique Snailspace sculptures go under the hammer and slide away to their forever homes.
Bargain Hunt’s Mark Stacey hosted as our auctioneer and amongst the guests were Snailspace sponsors, artists, and volunteers, alongside some of Brighton’s well-known faces and dignitaries.
Danni Smith’s beautiful snail depicting bee-friendly flowers, ‘To Everything There is a Season’ sold for the highest amount at £12,800. Fiona Blair’s “Hokusai” sold for £12,000, Natalie Guy’s “Disco Snail” went for £10,300 and Fatboy’s “Fast Forward The Mixtape Snail” sold for £7,000.
From all the Snails sold, more than £230,000 was raised from guests in the room as well as online bidders. The profits from this income (after expenses and royalties) will go to funding life-changing hospice care.
Speaking about the Snailspace auction, Imelda Glackin, CEO Martlets said:
“We are delighted with how much has been raised by auction, especially in these difficult economic times. Our giant gastropods have generated significant awareness of the work that Martlets does for families everyday in this city and this campaign has been about so much more than just the money raised at this stage.
Our #BeMoreSnail campaign, featuring our beautifully painted snails, has been a constant reminder to take a moment and enjoy the time we have with the people we share our lives with. As well as giving something back to our city, which we rely on to help fund our vital, life-changing care, it has also been a way for us to engage people, of all ages and from all walks of life, with our key philosophy of living as well as you can with whatever time you have left.
It is also wonderful to know that the legacy of these snails will live on and give pleasure to their buyers for years to come.”
Full details of the Snailspace event statistics and money raised will be issued in January once all elements of the campaign have been evaluated.