Dairying to be Different
Cow Art is a fun project initiated and funded by Ashgrove Cheese to bring the dairy industry into the lives of rural school children across northern Tasmania.
Cow Art was launched on Tuesday 18th March 2008 at Ashgrove Cheese in Elizabeth Town. 21 schools from across northern and north west Tasmania were invited to participate in the project. received a plain fiberglass cow which the school was then free to decorate. In addition to the cow each school received a dairy education kit and a free educational tour of Ashgrove Cheese to enable dairy related activities to form part of the curriculum and enhance the educational experience of the project.
In initiating this project Ashgrove aims to develop a sense of pride within the community of the important role of the dairy industry in the economic prosperity of many of the rural communities across Northern Tasmania.
As an arts project in rural schools Cow Art enhances the exposure of students to creative thinking, innovation and difference which are important attributes of successful and dynamic rural communities.
Cow Art went public at Agfest 2008 from Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd May when the decorated cows were displayed around the site for the 3 day event. Judging of the Cow Art took place at Agfest with the awards presented on Friday 2nd May at 2pm in the Dairy Pavilion by Minister for Primary Industries and Water Hon David Llewellyn MHA.
The response to the Cow Art project from both the schools and the public at Agfest has been overwhelming. The quality of the artwork produced by the schools is exceptional
Viewing of the Ashgrove Cow Art Cows
The quality of the art work created by the schools for Cow Art is such that the cows are being placed on permanent display at the Ashgrove Cheese factory in Elizabeth Town.
The cows have been given pride of place around the Ashgrove Cheese building and in the front paddock of Ashgrove beside the highway replacing the real Friesian herd and providing a colourful welcome for visitors to the business.
The story behind the inspiration and creation of each cow is displayed in the shop of Ashgrove Cheese.