Dozens of fantastic feline sculptures will go on show this weekend in Aberdeen as part of a purrfect charity project.
The Cat Parade initiative asked organisations, schools, community groups and artists across the north-east to paint their very own replica of the iconic Kelly’s Cats, which adorn the parapet of Union Bridge.
Around 100 of the miniature statues will go on display in the window of Watersone’s bookshop on Union Street this weekend, where they will stay for a month before being auctioned to raise money for Clan, Unicef and the Denis Law Legacy Trust.
The event has been organised by the city’s Bon Accord rotary club to commemorate its 100th anniversary, and comes after a similar project involving Kelly’s Cats in 2005, and 2014’s Wild Dolphin sculpture trail.
Sam Murray, the president of the rotary club and organiser of the Cat Parade, said: “In 2005, our Catwalk project raised £35,000 for charity and, ever since, I thought it would be nice to run it again sometime.
“We’ve redesigned and simplified the project this time round, and we’ve had 100 cats painted and decorated by a variety of people, from professional artists to schoolchildren.
“They will all be in the Waterstone’s window until September 27, so I would encourage everyone to go and have a look before they are sold to the highest bidder – they really are a sight to see, they’re beautiful icons of Aberdeen.”
A special talk by Fiona Jane Brown about the history of Kelly’s Cats and Union Bridge will be held at Waterstones tomorrow from 6.30pm to launch the exhibition.
For more information visit www.catparade.co.uk
