Cows about Cambridge raised a moovellous £257,100 at the charity auction hosted by celebrity auctioneer Charles Hanson.
The auction saw almost 300 in-person and online bidders compete to purchase one of 45 udderly unique lots: 41 life-size Cow sculptures and two mini moos, each painted or handcrafted by professional artists from the region and beyond, and two blank Cows.
The proceeds from the auction will go to Break – a charity working with children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care.
“I’ve been blown away by Cambridge’s generous support. Thank you to each and every person and business who placed their bids at the auction,” Rachel Cowdry, CEO of Break
Thank you to everyone who attended the event, registered to bid or enjoyed our auction live online.
Q. When and where was the Cows about Cambridge Auction
The Cows about Cambridge Auction took place on 23 September 2023 at The Graduate Hotel.
Q. Which charity benefitted from the auction proceeds?
Proceeds from the Cows about Cambridge auction went to Break, a charity working with children and young people on the edge of care, in care and leaving care in Cambridgeshire and East Anglia.
Q. How will the money be used?
Break work to change the lives of young people in care and leaving care local to Cambridgeshire. Break believes that with the right care and support children and young people can achieve anything, no matter their start in life.
Q. Was every sculpture unique?
Yes, the cow sculpture was created especially for Cambridge by Wild in Art’s Creative Director Chris Wilkinson. It was inspired by the city’s famous Red Poll Cows which have grazed the city’s open spaces for hundreds of years. Each sculpture was designed by a professional artist.
Q. Who was the auctioneer?
The auctioneer was Charles Hanson.
Q.Can I buy a blank Cow sculpture?
Blank Cow sculptures, both large and small, are not currently available to buy. This is to protect the value of the Cow sculptures that will be auctioned to help raise funds for Break.
Q. Were any Cows not included in the auction?
Moosha P Cambridge, Sabeesha the Mystic Moo and Trash Art Moo and Mini Moo created as part of the Heard by the Herd Cow-munity Project were returned to the groups that created them as a legacy of the event.
Entwining of Two Worlds has found a forever home with the Merritt family, whose son Jack inspired the design.
The mini moos created by Cambridge’s young people were not auctioned and were returned to the schools and groups that created them, as a legacy of the summer the Cows took over Cambridge.
