12/05/10 - Big money charity work goes on show at Balmoral

Big moo-ves are afoot to raise money for a local rural support charity, it has been herd. A genuine cash cow will be milking the Balmoral Show to help an organisation that supports positive change in rural communities.

The world’s first bovine work created from coins by artists for charity is making its first public appearance at the Ulster Bank Pavilion in the RUAS Showgrounds this morning (Wednesday May 12, 2010 at 10.30am).

The impressive ‘Brit-Art’ style cash cow, named Udder Beaut, has been specially made for the Balmoral Show by local artists Ben Allen and Katie Blue, working with students from the University of Ulster’s School of Art and Design.

The Ulster Bank-commissioned cash cow will raise funds for Rural Support, with visitors to the show asked to donate £1 to the rural charity for the chance to win a prize by guessing the value of the coins making up the creation.

More photographs of the cash cow and of the Balmoral Show are available on flickr.

The cash cow will be broken up after the show, with the coins then going to Rural Support along with funds raised over the course of the three days through the competition.

Deborah Gavin of Rural Support helped get the cash cow ready for the show.

Chloe McKibben from Coleraine was pictured with the art work on the first morning of the show.

Ulster Bank’s Head of Agriculture, Cormac McKervey, explains: “At Ulster Bank, we have a very strong commitment to rural communities, having significantly increased our agricultural customer-base, and being the overall sponsor of the Balmoral Show. The idea for the cash cow came about as a way of contributing to Rural Support’s good work and of communicating our strong commitment to the farming sector.”

The cash cow will reside at the Ulster Bank Pavilion for much of the three days of the Balmoral Show, with all show visitors welcome to come along to make a guess at the value of the coins used by the artists to create the cash cow.

Grainne McClean, Executive Director of Rural Support says: “We were delighted when Ulster Bank approached us about the project; we think it is a brilliant idea that will raise funds to support the important work that we do in rural communities. We would encourage visitors to go along to see the cash cow – it is a fantastic piece of art – and to make an important contribution to a good cause.”

The name of the cash cow – Udder Beaut – was given to it by the students working alongside the artists on the project.

The work is a metre long dairy cow sculpture adorned with several thousand highly polished coins of various denominations sitting on a golden plinth and contained within its own Perspex box.

It will arrive at the show in its own, special, handmade cash cow crate.

The cash cow is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/balmoralcashcow and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Balmoral-Cash-Cow/108182825890336?ref=ts

About Katie and Ben

Katie Blue is an artist and junk sculptor, maverick recycler and sock monkey lover. Well known locally for her quirky, colourful and often humorous junk sculptures, assemblages and more recently for her lush prints and paintings, she is rapidly carving a name for herself as one of Ireland's most innovative artists.

As well as private commissions locally and abroad, Katie has sold and exhibited work in the UK, Europe, Japan and the USA. Her work is in the collections of the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum and other Northern Ireland public buildings; in the Museo de Collage, Cuernavaca, Mexico; and the Learning Connexion, Wellington, New Zealand; and in homes all over the world.

Ben Allen, a master mosaic artist for 13 years, also works in cast bronze and aluminium and is renowned for his collectable photographic cityscapes of Belfast.

A multi-media artist, Ben specialises in digital imaging, print making and bronze sculpture.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art and Belfast Art College, Ben has also been filmed for the recent BBC Artscape programme. His jewellery designs are sought after by celebrities including Duke Special, who wears Ben’s ‘Man Brooches.’

About Rural Support

www.ruralsupport.org.uk

Rural Support was formed as a charity in 2002 to act as a helpline 0845 606 7 607 in other words provide a service which people can use to find sources of practical help or a service if they just want to talk to someone about their concerns and those of their family.

All this can be done without the caller having to leave their own home.

The service is confidential and guarantees anonymity. Volunteers are trained and will provide a top class and professional service. They ensure all enquiries and referrals are followed up and the caller kept informed of progress, if applicable.

The charity was established with the funding from DARD and DHSSPS and we are delighted to say the funding has continued.