Royal Highland Showcase arts initiative highlights the best of the south west – from ice cream and chocolate to love and literature
A herd of multi-coloured life-sized Belted Galloway is appearing all round Dumfries and Galloway with an invitation for visitors and locals to snap a “Selfie with a Beltie”.
The cut-out cows, created from sustainable materials, are intended to highlight some of the best that south west Scotland has to offer in food, drink, leisure, culture, society and tourism.
Among them are one covered in hearts for Gretna Green, The UK’s weddings capital, one decorated with book covers in Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town, and one with scallop shells for the fishing port of Kirkcudbright.
There is also a rainbow Beltie that will be placed near the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary hospital, Dumfries, in recognition of the work by NHS staff during the pandemic.
The Selfie with a Beltie project is part of a series of bright, bold arts initiatives designed to make the most of Dumfries and Galloway’s role as “host” region for The Royal Highland Showcase in Partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland which takes place from 14-20 June.
The Showcase event replaces the annual Royal Highland Show, at the Ingliston Showground near Edinburgh, and while it is having to take place behind closed doors it will be live streamed for free.
A different region of Scotland is invited to act as host each year, giving it a chance to highlight its rural economy.
Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) honorary president, the broadcaster and Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries Fiona Armstrong, said: “We can’t bring the public to the showground, so we are taking Dumfries and Galloway to the world – and there’s no better-loved symbol of the region than our Belties.
“These 12 colourful cut-outs will put the focus on some of the brilliant things our region offers including chocolate and ice cream from our dairy herds, scallops from the sea, mountain biking and kayaking in the hills and lochs – right the way through to romance at Gretna and the bookshops of Wigtown.
“As Covid restrictions ease in the months and years ahead we hope people will enjoy posting pictures of themselves with our Belties, and even travelling around to snap the whole herd.”
The Belties were created and distributed by Alba Printers of Dumfries, with design input from students and Dumfries and Galloway College.
One, the Camouflage Beltie, will be at Ingliston during the Showcase as part of the Veterans’ Garden initiative which involves former military personnel from the region creating a colourful flower garden and a portable display at the showground. After the event it will go to the Veterans’ Garden in Dumfries, which has a children’s play area.
Other arts initiatives taking place as part of the President’s Initiative include:
- A showground mural showing the wildlife and livestock of Dumfries and Galloway
- A 12-foot wicker Beltie bull which will be on show at Ingliston and then taken to events and locations in Dumfries and Galloway.
- A series of short films about what the region has to offer in food, farming, leisure and more.
There are also photographic and cake baking competitions.
For full information follow the Showcase on social media @ScotlandRHShow.
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