Arts Project Australia and Leonard Joel are pleased to announce the success of The Day We All Went Home, their inaugural fundraising auction held on Sunday 28 June.
With 157 bidders joining the auction on online platform Invaluable, $46,435 of artworks sold over the event, with an additional $1590 in post-sales. Leonard Joel and Invaluable waived their respective premiums and fees, with 100% of proceeds presented to Arts Project Australia and participating artists. 79 of 95 lots sold; highlights including Wendy Dawson’s Untitled (Lot 61), with a high estimate of $280, purchased at $825, and Daniel Pace’s Crown (Lot 92), with a high estimate of $220, successfully selling for $850. Leonard Joel also committed to buying $5000 worth of artworks, including Jimmy Tran’s original Hero Man series. A small number of lots are still available and can be viewed at the virtual exhibition Second Chances.
“We were cautiously optimistic about the results of this auction, and it has surpassed all our expectations,” says APA Director Sue Roff. “Not only has it resulted in significant income but also additional spin off sales for artists whose works were sold in the auction. The days after the auction have seen a flurry of interest in Arts Project artists. We hope this will become a regular event in our annual calendar and are so appreciative of the generosity and support of Leonard Joel in making this such a success.”
The auction reflected on Saturday 16 March: the day that the Arts Project Australia studio and gallery closed and 150 artists were asked to stay home due to Covid-19. It is with this vital fundraising and the essence of support manifested by our community, that we can look forward to the future and continue to advocate for the inclusion of marginalised artists in the arts sector.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who supported us throughout this initiative: the bidders and viewers who watched the auction online, as well as to our 10-year partner Leonard Joel, led by John Albrecht, for facilitating an incredibly successful fundraising event.
Image | Wendy Dawson, Untitled, 2019, paint pen on paper, 30 x 42cm
