Organisations across the region are being encouraged to get behind the latest public art initiative to be released across East Yorkshire next year by sponsoring distinctly decorated six-foot high Rats. The launch coincides with this year’s Biz Week which starts today with an opening breakfast at the MKM Stadium.
Following hot on the heels of Puffins Galore, A Moth for Amy and Larkin Toads, which have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, the ‘Mischief of Rats’ will be unleashed in the summer of 2025 as a tribute to 60’s band The Rats, whose local musicians included Mick Ronson, probably best known as lead guitarist with David Bowie’s ‘Spiders from Mars’.
“This is the most radical animal sculpture trail yet,” stated the project’s co-director, Rick Welton. “A Mischief of Rats will see up to 50 giant artist decorated rat sculptures finding homes across East Yorkshire and Hull next Summer. The Grand Charity Auction at the end of the trail will raise much needed funds to support the vital work of the Castle Hill Hospital based charity, The Daisy Appeal, which helps advanced and detailed detection of cancer, heart disease and dementia through highly advanced PET-CT scanning techniques.”
Previous trails have proved highly successful with the public and have attracted thousands of visitors to discover the unique colourful sculptures decorated by a wide variety of artists. Sponsors love the association with such successful initiatives and some also snap up ‘their’ artworks to display after the public trail has finished.
The cost of sponsoring a Rat is £4500 and these sponsorships cover all the costs of developing, creating, managing and promoting the trail. In September 2025 there will be a Grand Charity Auction of the sculptures, which, along with profits from any merchandise sold, could raise up to £250,000. Some businesses have already signed up wanting to repeat the success of Puffins Galore.
Claire Levy, fund-raising manager for the Daisy Appeal said “We are really excited that A Mischief of Rats will be raising substantial funds in such an imaginative and high-profile initiative. The auction proceeds will be used to support our cutting-edge research and to purchase state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that are so important to improving the life-chances of patients living with cancer, heart disease and dementia in our region.”
For more information businesses interested in sponsorship should contact Rick Welton.
