Artists have been left feeling ten feet tall on the back of coaches on the M1 motorway and beyond thanks to an innovative new Matthews.ie business to arts competition. The Matthews.ie Arts Showcase Initiative promotes and provides innovative advertising support on the rear of the north-east coach company’s vehicles to a succession of artists across a range of disciplines over a three-year period. The competition runs every six months and artists can download the application form here. A unique arts collaboration, driven by Matthews.ie with Louth and Monaghan County Council Arts Offices, was shortlisted in two categories – Best Small Sponsorship and Best Use of Creativity in the Community in the 25th Allianz Business To Arts Awards. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Matthews.ie, Paddy & Mary Matthews asked local Irish singer/songwriter Sinead McNally to write a song for the company. The song “Matthews Take You There” was launched alongside the #MatthewsArts initiative. Sinead was the first recipient of an award which saw her music feature on the back of a Matthews.ie coach, seen by thousands of people a day on the M1 corridor. This is a short interview with Sinead McNally about our song and our #MatthewsArts Initiative.
Local artist Orla Barry was the second recipient of the #MatthewsArts Initiative. Orla’s 3.6 metre ad, featuring her painting Meet Me Halfway, is on display on some of the company’s 148 daily services between Dublin and the northeast. Based in Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, artist Orla works with acrylics on canvas, and her work is influenced by animals, nature and a search for perfect colour combinations. Artists bidding to be the latest winner of the Matthews.ie Arts Showcase Initiative are asked to enter via the online form here. Closing date for the next round is the end of August 16. Please have a look at our short video as we interview Orla on her success with #MatthewsArts