17 April 2013

Artwork goes up for auction in aid of Tanzania

Art lovers looking for that extra special item for their collection are invited to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) on Friday for a charity auction that seeks to improve the prospects of Tanzanian children.

In total, 138 paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, jewellery pieces, ceramics and textile works have been donated for auction by dozens of notable artists. Many of these pieces have been on display at DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, ahead of the event.

The auction, on behalf of the Ruvuma Development Aid (RUDA) charity that works to develop and support projects which can improve the lives of families in the African country. The money raised will support the building of the Ntimbanjayo School of Excellence in rural Tanzania, a Nursery and Primary School in the village of Namanditi.

The auction is being organised by DJCAD lecturer Louise Johnstone, who has been raising funds for the charity since 2000.

"Our main source of funding since we began has been Art Auctions, and these events and the funds raised were only possible thanks to the generosity of artists, painters, printmakers, potters, sculptors, textile and jewellery designers," she said. "With the help of our artist friends, I hope that we can make this auction in 2013 the most successful to date.

"I have always believed in the power of education to improve lives so I feel passionate about this particular project. Our aim is to provide the children in the area with what is a basic right, access a decent education and the opportunity to fulfil their potential."

The land for the school was purchased in 2007 and, since then, RUDA have built and equipped classrooms as and when they had funds available. In 2011, the first 20 children started in the Nursery class and there are now 45 children in the school, 30 of whom are orphans and children from deprived backgrounds.

By this summer, the school will have six large classrooms, a toilet block, admin block with a clinic and a small library/computer room as well as offices, a kitchen and stores. The school hopes to build a double dormitory for pupils next, and it is this construction that funds from the Dundee auction will go towards.

Work will go under the hammer from artists including Marj Bond, Phil Braham, June Carey, Doug Cocker, Ronnie Forbes, Oscar Goodall, Claire Harkess, Margaret Hunter, John Johnstone, Louise Johnstone, Alice MacFarlane, Joe MacIntyre, Morag Muir, Luisa Ramazotti, Jonathan Robertson, Lara Scobie, Jan Shelley, Sheana Stephen, Graeme Todd and Arthur Watson have already been made.

The auction takes place in the newly refurbished entrance of DJCAD's Matthew Building on Friday, 19th April and all available works can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/rudatanzania. Doors open at 5.30pm with the auction starting at 6.30pm.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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