Crickhowell based charity Arts Alive Wales will be hosting an art auction on Friday 15 March at The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny to raise money for their community arts programme.
Bridge126 Winter by Hannah Firmin
The biennial event is a cornerstone of the fundraising strategy for this thriving charity and show-cases the talents of leading contemporary artists, as well as being a lively and entertaining evening for guests in the elegant surroundings of the Abergavenny’s Angel Hotel Ballroom.
Arts Alive Wales is passionate about using the arts to inspire and enhance the quality of life of local people. The charity works across mid and south east Wales with professional artists to provide opportunities for active participation in the arts, particularly for adults and children whose lives are challenging. All proceeds from the auction will go directly to support their community projects, as Arts Alive Wales Director, Justine Wheatley, comments:
“Arts Alive Wales receives no regular funding so the auction is a vital way of raising money for our community programme, which is targeted at vulnerable groups and individuals. In 2013/14 we will be working closely with young homeless people and mental health groups to enable them to have opportunities to participate in arts activities and to help improve their wellbeing and resilience. The auction makes this work possible, while also being a unique opportunity to purchase original artwork, including paintings, ceramics, prints, sculpture and jewellery, by contemporary artists.”
Martyn Jones Atelier Aquifer
The auction is also a chance to showcase the work of locally based professional artists that regularly work with Arts Alive Wales such as Toril Brancher, Penny Turnbull, Victoria Penn, Stephanie Turnbull and Cath Baker. Sculptor Matt Caines (www.mattcaines.co.uk)and jeweller Amanda Caines (www.amandacaines.co.uk) who moved to Abergavenny last year from London are first time contributors. Others include Gulbenkian Welsh Art Prize winning painter Clive Hicks-Jenkins (www.hicks-jenkins.com), ceramicists Lowri Davies (www.lowridavies.com) and Virginia Graham (www.virginiagraham.co.uk), printmaker Hannah Firmin (www.hannahfirmin.com) winner of Best Book Cover of the Year 2004 for her cover of Alexander McCall Smith’s ‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ and artist Sue Williams, shortlisted for the Artes Mundi prize in 2006 and a Gold Medal winner at the National Eisteddfod Wales in 2000 (www.nomorepink.com).There will also be selections of work from galleries g39 (www.g39.org), The Art Shop (www.artshopandgallery.co.uk) and Five Ways (www.five-ways.net).
The artwork will be available to view in advance of the event at www.artsalivewales.org.uk
Arts Alive Wales art auction, led by Edward Chetwynd of Chetwynd Antiques, will take place on Friday 15 March at 7pm at The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny. Tickets are priced at £30, which includes a drinks reception and a tapas supper – to apply for tickets please contact, email: info@artsalivewales.org.uk tel:01873 811579.
