World’s largest art project
Ashley Cooper and Filip Cederholm of the ABCharity Project in front of the “A” that was created by 500 children at Blaauwberg Beach in Cape Town. The duo is in Namibia as they have chosen the dunes of the Namib for their the second leg of their tour.
The world tour is part of a documentary film and web series, to raise US$10 million for charity by December 2016. The couple will craft their arty B next weekend, 23 June, in cooperation with the Namibian Tourism Board. Around 500 children from schools in Walvis Bay and Swakopmung have been invited to help the artists make their huge letter B.
After meeting in Canada, the two artists embarked on their journey together leaving everything behind with the exception of two 30kg backpacks between the two of them.
According to Ashley, her partner, Filip chose the name ABCharity because of its alpahabetic symbolism for children’s education which is the key point of the project.
Ashley and Filip are currently seeking local companies and individuals to help support the making of “The World’s Largest Art Project For Charity” and to make it a project that kids around the world will remember for life. They need assistance with food, beverages, give aways, portable toilets and transportation for the approximately 500 children. They are also looking for a company that will put up a 15-metre platform to take the pictures.
According to Ashley, the project’s aim is to inspire children and to create an environment where a caring attitude is desired and hope that the children who attend the event realise that they are a part of a global project of Kids helping Kids. “We would like them to have a day to remember for life leaving them inspired and empowered knowing they are helping to make a difference and there will be giveaways for the children on the day of the event so that they could have something to remember it by,” she says.
The couple informed the Economist that they are also currently looking for a national sponsor in Namibia who can help them with financial support in exchange for national and international exposure. Asked about the response the couple recieved from the Namibian people since their arrival, Ashley said that the Namibian Tourism Board has been a huge help as well as Protea Hotels that assisted them with accommodation.
“We have also had private individuals offering us their homes to stay in. The community at large have been supportive, anyone who has found out about us has tried to help in their own way!,” exclaimed Ashley.
The pair said that they would like charity organisations from each country to benefit from the money raised from the project, therefore Namibian charity organisations will be registered at the event in order for them to be recipients of the proceeds. The whole production is part of a web series called PeaceLoveAndPhotography.tv, which is quickly picking up speed and gaining International attention.
ABCharity is the Alphabet made with thousands of children from around the world gathering together to form each letter in a different location. They travel the world doing one letter per country and sell photographs as limited edition prints.
