Art and fundraising are set to join hands in a creative event next week, as Your Weekend finds out
What happens when you bring together the generosity and talent of nearly 40 Scottish artists, with a company committed to supporting its local community? The answer is an art exhibition with a difference.
Wood Group has joined forces with painters, sculptors, printmakers and illustrators from across the north and north-east of Scotland and the Western Isles, to host ARCHIE’s Art.
The event, which takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, November 12 and 13, at the company’s Trafalgar House offices at Altens, Aberdeen, will raise funds for The ARCHIE Foundation’s “High 10 for ARCHIE” appeal.
Wood Group pledged to raise £200,000 in support of the appeal’s 10-step campaign “to make Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital a world-class hospital for today and tomorrow’s sick children”, in March. Employees of the company have spent the past six months baking, running, cycling and recycling their way to the halfway point of their fundraising target, which represents the biggest single sponsorship package ever received by the charity.
Now they are hoping the transformation of their workplace into a temporary art exhibition, housing over 100 diverse pieces of work, will inspire attendees to dig deep for this worthwhile cause.
Explaining the impetus behind the exhibition, Tony Dinozzi, group head of mergers and acquisitions at Wood Group, said: “When we heard about the ‘High 10 for ARCHIE’ appeal, we felt compelled as a company to commit our support to enhance the experience and environment for children attending Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital. In order to raise this significant amount, employees of Wood Group have really put their thinking caps on to come up with a series of events that are creative and diverse.
“For me, introducing art into the fundraising equation was a natural choice: I’ve been into local art for the past 20 years and like nothing better than going round galleries looking at the latest exhibitions and chatting with the owners. My kids have been incredibly patient, as has my
wife, and I have dragged them round gallery after gallery, particularly when we are on holiday in Scotland.
“When I pitched the idea to the fundraising team, it was agreed that ARCHIE’s Art was a great concept. The effort, time and enthusiasm that has been poured into developing the exhibition has been significant; I’m not sure any of us realised what we were taking on.
“The willingness of the local artistic community to participate and their generosity has been truly inspiring. It has been a privilege to encounter a huge amount of amazing art that I never knew was out there, and have direct contact with these 38 incredible artists who have offered their talent to support this appeal. It will make a huge difference to the lives of sick children and their families.”
Elinor Grieve’s bright animal paintings, Fiona Chance’s fine art and print pieces, Anita Inverarity’s mythological illustrations and Lesley D. McKenzie’s animal sculptures will be among the art available to view and purchase at the event.
At least 50% of each sale will go to the ARCHIE Foundation, while a large number of works have been donated so that 100% of the price will go to the charity.
Money raised from the exhibition will help deliver the transformation of Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital’s reception area, and the upgrade of the garden and play areas at the front and rear of the building.
David Cunningham, chief executive of The ARCHIE Foundation, said: “ARCHIE’s Art is an innovative idea which is typical of the wonderful support given by Wood Group
staff. They know what an important part art plays for the children in hospital and they have linked that theme with this brilliant fundraising idea. The quality of the local
art that has been gathered has to be seen to be believed and I can’t wait to see it all mounted and exhibited.
“The funds raised from ARCHIE’s Art will help us to make a real difference for sick children in the north of Scotland and we are very grateful to Wood Group staff for organising and hosting it.”
The ARCHIE’s Art exhibition will be open from 6.30pm onwards on Wednesday, November 12, and Thursday, November 13, at Wood Group’s Trafalgar House, Altens.
The event is open to the public, but numbers are limited, so those wishing to visit the exhibition should e-mail archiesart@ woodgroup.com in advance.
For more information on the Archie’s Art exhibition visit www.facebook.com/Artforarchie To support the campaign, go to
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WoodGroup10