PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Monday, 19 October 2009
Donated works by leading contemporary artists raise an impressive £485,000 for Harefield Hospital
An auction of artworks inspired by the heart and created by leading contemporary artists has raised £485,000 for Harefield Hospital.
The artworks in a range of media were donated by leading contemporary artists including Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin, Rachel Howard, Anselm Kiefer, Sarah Lucas, Grayson Perry, Boo Ritson, Conrad Shawcross and Bernar Venet.
Fundraising Director for Royal Brompton & Harefield Charitable Fund, Jennifer Walton said: “The auction has been a fantastic success and we are indebted to the artists who so generously donated these exceptional pieces of art. The funds raised will make a big difference to patients at Harefield Hospital through improved facilities and pioneering research.”
The auction was the brainchild of Harefield Hospital consultant cardiac surgeon Jullien Gaer who, together with his wife, the art adviser Polly Robinson Gaer, has been involved in the art world for many years. The auction took place last Friday during Sotheby’s London Frieze Week Sale of Contemporary Art.
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For further information about Harefield Hospital, please contact:
Shima Islam, Head of media relations
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 020 7351 8672 (Brompton)
Tel: 01895 828 877 (Harefield)
Mobile: 07866 536 345
Email: S.Islam@rbht.nhs.uk
For further information about the auction and photos of the artwork, please contact:
Simon Warren at Sotheby’s London
Tel: 020 7293 6000
Email: simon.warren@sothebys.com
Notes to editors:
Harefield Hospital
Harefield Hospital is part of Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust which is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. We work from two sites, Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, West London and Harefield Hospital near Uxbridge.
Every year many lives are saved by the dedicated team of professionals at Harefield Hospital. Harefield has long enjoyed international acclaim for being the leader in its field: from transplants to artificial hearts, from conventional surgery to state of the art medical treatment, Harefield patients receive the best possible specialist care for their heart or lung condition. The hospital attracts experts from all over the world, clinicians and researchers striving to push the boundaries of research, innovation and treatment. The money that we raise through this unique auction will support them in their endeavour, enabling the hospital’s pioneering work to continue.
About Sotheby’s and Charity Auctions:
Founded in 1744, Sotheby’s is the oldest and largest publicly traded auction house in the world that engages in art auction, private sales and art-related financing activities. The company has a long history of engaging in the support of philanthropic activities across the globe, through both sponsorship and charity auctions. Sotheby’s staff do a huge amount to support charities, and where possible provide advice and assistance in the organisation of charity auctions. Globally, in 2007 Sotheby’s raised in the region of £70.7 million for charitable causes, which increased to the remarkable sum of £94.4 million in 2008.
One of the highest profile charity auctions that Sotheby’s has been involved with was The (RED) Auction in New York in February 2008, which was the brainchild of Bono and Damien Hirst. The most successful charity auction of Contemporary Art ever staged, it achieved a remarkable total of $42.58 million (double the estimate) and established 17 artists’ records. Proceeds went to the United Nations Foundation to support HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa conducted by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Other major charity auctions Sotheby’s has staged include The Whitechapel Sale in 2006, the NSPCC auction in 2007, and the sale of JK Rowling’s ‘The Tales of Beedle the Bard’ in 2007 to benefit Children’s Voice.
