Cormac Brophy from Sensational Kids and jockey Rachael Blackmore.

A horse of another colour!

The Curragh Racecourse along with Irish Injured Jockeys and Sensational Kids have launched their ‘under stARTers orders’ creative public arts fundraising initiative. The Curragh wanted to create a unique fundraising drive for the charities to tie in with the launch of the new Curragh Racecourse. The exciting public arts project which involves top Irish artists with all proceeds going to racing charity Irish Injured Jockeys and Kildare based children’s charity Sensational Kids.
Twenty of Ireland’s most distinguished artists have been commissioned to take part and each artist received a life-size resin horse sculpture that is primed and ready to paint in their own unique style. On completion, all works will be sold and the proceeds will be shared equally between the two charities.
The public will have the chance to visit and view these spectacular works while on public display at various locations from April to June of this year. This is an opportunity for corporates, host locations, galleries, shopping malls, airports, tourist attractions and event sites to work with the charities in a meaningful way providing display spaces for the public to gaze as the horses ‘graze’ during this period. It also offers a unique platform to the artists involved to showcase their work to anyone who loves horse racing and art both here in Ireland and around the world.
 
The horse sculptures are currently with each of the artists and some have started work on them already. The deadline for completion on all creatives is the end of March, this is to allow ample time for the public and prospective buyers to view them. The sales aspect of this project is also in full swing with many parties showing a keen interest in getting their hands on one of these exclusive works of art. A guide price of €10,000 has been put on each piece with many of the sculptures expected to be sold over the coming weeks as the artist’s progress and interest in the project peaks.
A selection of works will be chosen by an independent panel of experts to go forward to auction on Friday 28th of June at The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. This coincides with the launch of the new Curragh after the recent redevelopments which will showcase The Curragh’s new world-class facilities on a par with the best in the world including a major new grandstand which incorporates five star corporate facilities, restaurants, bars and superb viewing facilities.  
For further information visit www.startersorders.ie or follow this project as it progresses and as the individual works evolve live on social media @understartersorders.