Aberdeen has gone Dolphin mad this summer with a colourful pod of wild dolphins gracing locations across the city. 50 life sized dolphin sculptures were transformed by the imaginations of leading artists, designers and creative’s. All the dolphins were sponsored by local/national businesses, with the whole city falling in love with each and every dolphin even creating a new social media craze the "dolphie" a dolphin selfie, which flooded twitter and instagram feeds all summer long.
The culmination of the event saw 18,000 visitors coming to bid farewell to the dolphins for one last weekend. The pod in the quad saw all 50 sculptures placed together at Marischal College, and gave the public one last chance to see see their favourites before being auctioned.
On 10th September at Aberdeen Music Hall all 50 Dolphins were put up for auction and the results were beyond anyones wildest dreams. The sold out auction saw a full house eager bidders as well as an extensive following all the action live online. With the money raised going to WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) and the ARCHIE Foundation, the charity which supports sick children at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
Loz Atkinson who created an un quenched defiance to the stars said "I couldn't make the live auction but was excitedly watching live online and as the evening went on i have to say i was blown away by the ammounts being bid, and when my doll came up to say i was elated is an understatement! I even shead a tear of joy knowing she'd be going to a very loving home and that all the dolphins had done an amazing job for the charities."
Loz's Dolphin sold for an astronomic £22,000 the second highest selling dolphin of the night. The biggest sale of the night was "Golfin Dolphin", which featured the signatures of many of the world's top players, including Phil Mickelson, Paul McGinley, and Paul Lawrie all playing in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open which sold for £55,000.
In total the auction raised an incredible £531,000 to be split between the two charities.
David Cunningham, chief executive of The ARCHIE Foundation, said: "It was staggering and amazing. We are so humbled by the generosity of the people of Aberdeen.
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