Called ‘Cows about Cambridge’, this innovative project will be one of the largest mass-participation art events ever to be held in the city. Some 50 full-size Cow sculptures, each one individually designed by an artist and sponsored by a business, will form a trail of discovery across Cambridge from 30 March until 7 June 2020, encouraging local people to explore and enjoy their environment from an exciting new perspective.
The 10-week art trail will be delivered by creative producers Wild in Art in partnership with local children’s charity Break, and is supported by inaugural sponsor and Principal Partner, Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID). It’s expected to create a feel-good factor for the region, while generating more than £8 million of economic value, promoting wellbeing and an active lifestyle, and facilitating discussions on environmental issues. After entertaining and bringing together communities, the legacy of Cows about Cambridge continues as many of the sculptures will be auctioned to raise vital funds for Break.
Cows about Cambridge will involve a large cross-section of the Cambridgeshire community. Schools and colleges will be invited to adopt and design their own ‘mini moos’, as part of a county-wide Learning Programme. Community groups will also have the opportunity to tell their stories by working with a regional artist to decorate their very own Cow.
Wild in Art has a track record of delivering world-class events that entertain, enrich, inform and leave a lasting legacy. Recent work includes the award-winning Bee in the City for Manchester, Snailspace in Brighton, and GoGoHares in Norfolk, the third in a trilogy of GoGo events with Break.
Wild in Art Director, Charlie Langhorne says: “We are delighted to be working with Break once again and to have the support of Cambridge BID from the get-go to produce Cows about Cambridge, a project that we hope will have a very positive impact on the city and region.
“The bespoke designs will tell the story of Cambridge and its people in a new way, which will inspire those who walk the trail to smile, laugh, think and reflect.”
“Red Poll cows are part of everyday life in Cambridge,” explains Ian Sandison, CEO of Cambridge BID. “Thousands of local people walk or cycle near their pastureland every day, on their way to work, school and the shops. In choosing Cow sculptures for this innovative, world-class art trail, they will celebrate the uniqueness of our city and encourage new conversations between business and the wider community.”
At the end of the project, the educational and community Cows will find forever pastures back at the organisations that adopted them. The corporate Cows, however, will be auctioned off in a glittering event that will raise more than £250,000 in aid of children’s charity Break.
“Here at Break, we make life better for vulnerable young people and families across East Anglia,” comments Hilary Richards Break’s CEO. “Proceeds raised through the trail will help us to continue to change young lives and further Break’s work across Cambridgeshire.”
If you are a local artist, or you represent a Cambridgeshire school, business or community group, find out more about how you can get involved with Cows about Cambridge by visiting cowsaboutcambridge.co.uk #CowsaboutCambridge.