OCTOBER 2010

Is there a better way to raise money for a worthwhile cause than an art auction? Vancouver now counts a number of these benefit events in its yearly cultural cycle. They raise much needed funds for various charitable organizations and educational institutions. 

Denbigh Fine Art Services is pleased to donate our storage, transportation and installation services in support of these fundraising efforts. We use our fleet of trucks to transport work from artists’ studios and galleries to our storage facility. Once all the work for an auction is assembled, we deliver it to the event’s location. Pieces which are not picked up at the end of the evening’s proceedings are then transported back to our storage for their new owners to pick up. We are also able to schedule delivery and installation services for people who cannot move their own artwork. The last thing you want to be thinking about at an art auction is “Will this piece fit in my car and how can I install it?”

Let’s take a look at just a few of these local events from the past year.

Unite with Art
On June 3, 2010 Maynards Auction House hosted the third annual Unite with Art Gala and Art Auction.


This event benefits UNICEF’s “Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS” campaign. More than 90 works of art, fashion and design were donated by locally based and other Canadian artists. The links below detail the pieces available in both the live and silent auction events that evening:
Live auction
Silent auction

Over 350 people attended this sold out event, and a record $460,000 was raised in support of this internationally important cause.

Arts Umbrella
On October 16, Arts Umbrella held its 28th annual art auction and gala, “Splash 2010”.  Over 500 people attended this event at Performance Works on Granville Island and over $375,000 was raised to support the great work that Arts Umbrella does with Vancouver’s kids.


For those who don’t know, Arts Umbrella is a not-for-profit arts education centre for children between 2 and 19 years old. This event featured both live and silent auctions and the catalogues for both can be viewed by following these links:
Silent Art Auction 2010
Live Art Auction 2010

Exhibit E
On October 21, The Rennie Collection hosted “Exhibit E”, a fundraising event and auction in support of Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Work from 23 notable Vancouver artists was up for bidding in a live auction conducted by Barry Scott of Maynard’s Auction House. At the end of the evening over $430,000 had been raised to support students at ECUAD. Please link here to view the amazing collection of artwork that was very generously donated to this event.


Don Prior, Martha Sturdy, Jessica and Don Anderson (left). Photo: John Lee. Graham Gillmore, Untitled (right).

Contemporary Art Gallery
Vancouver’s Contemporary Art Gallery held its 22nd annual Art Auction and Gala Dinner at the Vancouver Club on Saturday, November 6. Local artists donated 46 works of art in a variety of media including paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and photographs.

Over $100,000 was raised to support upcoming exhibitions and public programming at the gallery. View the online auction catalogue

Art for Life
The new development at 560 Seymour Street (Home of the 560 Club and Belkin/Presentation House Satellite Galleries) was the site of the 17th annual Art for Life gala and auction on November 13. 

Art for Life benefits the Vancouver Friends for Life Society, an organization which works towards enhancing the lives of people dealing with life threatening illnesses.  

This event raised over $100,000 for this very worthwhile cause.  Please visit the links below to view the artwork up for auction during the evening’s proceedings:
Live Art Auction 2010
Silent Art Auction 2010

The generous support of artists and galleries who donate artwork to these events makes them successful year after year.  We here at Denbigh Fine Art Services also look forward to contributing to the success of these events in 2011.