This biennial event will take place on Saturday, 3 September 2011 at Leeuwenhof, the official residence of the Premier of the Western Cape, with all proceeds to be donated to the Children's Hospital Trust. The Trust raises funds for the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town and for paediatric healthcare in the Western Cape.
The impressive line-up of artists includes Deborah Bell, Willie Bester, Steven Cohen, Hasan and Husain Essop, Kendell Geers, David Goldblatt, Pieter Hugo, William Kentridge, Moshekwa Langa, Berni Searle, Penny Siopis, Mikhael Subotzky and Sue Williamson, amongst many others.
William Smith is a 12-year-old boy who lost both his arms after being electrocuted while climbing a high-voltage power post to investigate a bird's nest. After a lengthy Rehabilitation Programme in the Burns Ward at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, William has learnt to care for himself and particularly, to paint with his mouth and feet. William will demonstrate his footsy art skills with other burns patients, along with the contribution of participating artists to provide the designs to adorn Kronk's Vinyl Collectable Toy, which will be auctioned at this year's event. William is from Hex River near Worcester and now sells his art on his own website.
The 2011 Art Benefit will be the sixth of its kind organised by Amanda Bloch, Patron of the Children's Hospital Trust, in collaboration with Linda Givon, founder of the Goodman Gallery for Contemporary Art. This duo has teamed up with the Michael Stevenson Gallery and the Goodman Gallery, now under the directorship of Liza Essers, to bring together the valuable artworks for auction.
All proceeds from the event will go towards the purchasing of specialist equipment needed for the Hospital's new Burns Unit, currently under construction. Part of the funds raised at 2009's Benefit, kick-started the fundraising drive for the Burns Unit's upgrade, which commenced in September 2010. The Hospital's existing Burns Ward was built in 1956 and treats approximately 3500 children with burns every year. It is the only specialised burns centre in the Western Cape treating children under the age of 13 with burn injuries, and, because of a lack of similar facilities elsewhere in South Africa, is also a referral centre for children with severe burns from areas outside the Western Cape.
For the first time, the event is to be hosted by leading wealth management company BoE Private Clients, as part of its commitment to the cause of philanthropy in South Africa. Managing director Paul Finlayson explains that philanthropy underpins the company's vision 'to create prosperity through people and partnerships.' Participation in the Art Benefit event is an initiative on the part of the BoE Private Clients Philanthropy Office, which was specifically established to facilitate the involvement of High Net Worth individuals and families in benevolent causes, and to assist Non Profit Organisations to achieve longer term financial sustainability.
Since the inception of the Art Benefit in 2003, the event has raised more than R14million for the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, thereby touching the lives of thousands of patients who have been treated at the Hospital over this period.
Amanda Bloch's passion and philanthropic role stems from 2001 when her son became very ill and was saved by the medical intervention of paediatric specialists at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. Linda Givon is a loyal donor of the Children's Hospital Trust and has been a pioneer for South African art for many years.
The 2011 Art Benefit hosted by BoE Private Clients will provide a spectacular night out with superb art, elite company, lavish cuisine and mesmerising entertainment choreographed by world-renowned performance artist and choreographer Jay Pather in collaboration with acclaimed composer Phillip Miller. Guests will also be eligible to win extravagant prizes, generously donated for this benefit evening.
Tickets to the 2011 Art Benefit hosted by BoE Private Clients are available at a cost of R1000 per person or R10 000 per table of 10. For more information or to purchase tickets contact Amanda Bloch on az.oc.low@hcolb or Tara van Schalkwyk at az.gro.tsurthc@kywklahcsnav.arat or on 021 686 7860.
