Across Australia, the arts community is rallying together to support those impacted by devastating bushfires.
Art Guide has compiled a roundup of fundraising exhibitions and relief efforts by artists, galleries and arts organisations, which we will continue to update in the coming weeks.
National Gallery of Australia
For those seeking respite in the gallery, the NGA is offering free entry for children to the major exhibition, additional activities for children, and access to the members’ lounge for emergency services workers and those most affected.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
All visitor donations will go directly to the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Artists’ fundraiser (Online)
Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities and SEED Mob
Organised by artists Audrey Pfister, Stella Maynard and Lily Golightly.
Artists have donated artworks which will be sold at fixed prices (under $200) on the @art4climatejustice Instagram account. All of the proceeds from this fundraiser will be going towards the First Nations fire relief fund and SEED Mob Indigenous Youth Climate Network.
On The Ground 2020 (online)
Organised by artist Bhenji Ra
Bhenji Ra is part of the Moruya / Bateman’s Bay community that has been directly impacted by the bushfires. She has identified specific families and community groups in urgent need of relief, with the goal of bypassing red tape to provide funds quickly and directly to those affected. This includes the Dumadjirri Art Gallery and Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council, both destroyed in the fires.
HOME Bushfire Relief Art Auction Fundraiser
National Art School
12 February, 7 – 10pm
The HOME Bushfire Relief Art Auction Fundraiser has been announced as an independent fundraiser that will include an online opportunity to bid as well as a live event in partnership with Aon, National Art School and Sydney Contemporary.
Artists Making Futures: Bushfire Appeal
Holy Rollers Studios
69 Prospect Rd, Prospect SA
9 February, 4 – 8pm
SA Arts for a Cause, a group of South Australian artists fundraising for political and environmental change, launch Artists Making Futures: Bushfire Appeal. An art auction and art sale (with live music, bar and more) hosted by Holy Rollers Studios. Proceeds will be split between Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation and the WWF-Australia Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund.
Art Aid For Gippsland
2020 Gippsland Bushfire Appeal Exhibition and Auction
Gippsland Art Gallery
15 February – 15 March
Gippsland Art Gallery is calling on artists to support the fire relief effort by submitting artworks for a fundraising auction. All artworks will be displayed at the Gallery from 15 February to 15 March, culminating in an auction on the final day, Sunday 15 March at 4pm.
Artists may submit up to two artworks in any medium or style. Artworks can be dropped off at Gippsland Art Gallery during opening hours up until Sunday 9 February.
All money raised will be donated to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) to help support those who have lost their homes and property in the devastating East Gippsland bushfires.
Craft Victoria
Craft Victoria have set up an information hub to share the various fundraising activities taking place. If you have a craft-related fire relief project you’d like to promote, you can submit your information via their website craft.org.au.
Art Schools for Fire Relief
Margaret Lawrence Gallery
30 January – 1 February
Margaret Lawrence Gallery in collaboration with artists from Deakin University, Monash University, RMIT University and VCA: University of Melbourne invites you to a sale of donated artwork by some of Australia’s leading artists.
Sundown at McClelland
McClelland Sculpture Park & Gallery
Saturday 8 February, 3:30pm – 9:00pm
Sundown at McClelland is a music & art event in a bush environment, with local food and picnics, a lantern workshop and a musical lineup including Kutcha Edwards and Gena Rose Bruce. All funds raised will be donated to Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF).
SMALL MERCIES 2020
Creative Spaces
Unit 4/ 41-59 Sims St West Melbourne
20 February – 23 February
Bushfire fundraiser event with over 80 artists donating work to be exhibited the at Creative Spaces warehouse. Launch event Thursday 20th February 6-11pm.
Destruction, Beauty & Hope
Montsalvat
29 January – 6 March
Montsalvat have invited artists to donate artworks for the exhibition with 100% of the sale of these artworks being donated to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
Lend Us A Hand – Working Bee for Animal Rescue Craft Guild
Missing Persons
Friday 10 January, 11am – 5pm
Missing Persons is calling on craft makers to support ARCG (Animal Rescue Craft Guild) and MKC (Mini Kitty Commune) in crafting urgently needed supplies for the wildlife rescue and care efforts. They are looking for crafting skills and donations.
Online Art Auction
Pieces of Eight
8 January – 11 January
Pieces of Eight will be auctioning four one of a kind pieces, with all proceeds going to @redcrossau and @wireswildliferescue to support with their efforts in bushfire affected areas.
Art Fights Fire 2020
The Design Files online auction
Art Fights Fire is an online art auction organised by The Design Files. The auction features works donated by over thirty Australian artists and is raising funds for Victoria’s Country Fire Association, New South Wales’ WIRES Wildlife Rescue and Wildlife Victoria.
SOS – Climate Crisis Fire Alert
Airspace Gallery
11 January 4pm–10.10pm
Airspace will hold a one day exhibition with available works donated by local artists. All works are for sale and all proceeds will go to WIRES and Koala Sanctuaries.
Art Takes Action (Online)
Arthouse Gallery
Art Takes Action is an online art auction. Thirty artists have generously donated their artworks and nominated a charitable organisation defending, rebuilding lives, communities, wildlife and the land affected by this devastation. 100% of the profits from each sale will be donated to the respective artist’s nominated charity.
Bushfire Relief Raffle (Online)
JamFactory
8 January – 17 January
JamFactory’s community of artists, makers, and designers have come together and have a selection of 15 pieces to raffle to raise funds for the local CFS Foundation and the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park Fund.
#Australia is #Burning
Collective Haunt Inc.
16 January, 6pm–9pm
A fundraising exhibition opening and live auction to support the Kangaroo Island Mayor’s Bushfire Appeal Fund. Auction starts at 7pm sharp.
Clay for Australia (Online)
Organised by artist Vipoo Srivilasa
8 January – 31 January
Clay for Australia’s Facebook page will facilitate the promotion of works for sale by clay artists. All profits from sales will be donated to WIRES (Wildlife Rescue Emergency Fund) and Foodbank Australia.
Towards Regrowth
Sutton Gallery
17 January – 19 January
This 3-day, artist-led exhibition will include works by more than 30 Sutton Gallery artists and invited guests. 100% of proceeds from artwork sales and all cash donations collected at the opening reception will be donated to Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) and Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation. Everyone is encouraged to attend the opening evening (Friday 17 January 6-8pm) as all contributions, big or small, will make a difference. The exhibition will continue on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 January from 12-4pm. Full artist list to be announced shortly.
Gasworks Farmers Market
Gasworks Arts Park
Saturday 18 January, 8am–1pm
Resident artists from Gasworks Arts Park in Albert Park will be hosting a pop-up exhibition/open studio in conjunction with the Gasworks Farmers Market. All artworks will be discounted and 50% of sales from each artwork will be donated to Wildlife Victoria.
Bushfire Fundraiser Exhibition
Wherelunga
18 January, 6pm
A community art exhibition and fundraiser sale with works by Perth, Melbourne and Kimberley based artists. 100% of proceeds will be donated to Indigenous Crisis Response and Recovery and WIRES Wildlife Rescue.
Online Art Auction for Bushfire Relief
Reading Room
Online auction will be live from Saturday 18 January. 100% of funds raised will be donated to Wildlife Victoria and Firesticks Alliance Network.
Art For Bushfire Relief (Online)
Hound and Bone Studio
Limited edition prints will go on sale January 15, 100% of profits will go to the CFA Public Fund.
Midsumma Festival 2020 Opening Night
Trocadero Art Space
22 January, 6pm–8pm
Trocadero Art Space will give all proceeds from the bar, as well as any donations made on the night, to bushfire relief at the Midsumma Festival 2020 opening night.
Coffin Rides
Simon Zoric
Gertrude Glasshouse
23 January, 6pm–8pm
At this event Gertrude will be raising funds for help the Koalas and other native animals injured or displaced by recent fires. All takings from drinks sold at the event will go to Wildlife Victoria’s Bush Fire Appeal.
Victorian Bushfire Artist and Maker Silent Auction (Online)
Organised by artist Ben Gill
10 January – 19 January
A silent auction to raise funds for the tremendous efforts by the CFA volunteers that have fought the fires in Victoria. The entire proceeds from this online auction will be donated to help with future training and support of volunteers.
Fire Relief (Fun)draiser Art Auction (Online and at Tributary Projects)
Tributary Projects
17 January, 6pm
At the Fire Relief (Fun)draiser Art Auction event on 17 January there will be a live auction of artworks beginning at 6.30pm. In the days leading up to the event, bids for artworks will also be taken online. Many works can also be bid on in a silent auction which will run from 6pm on 17 of January and end at 5pm 19 of January. Funds raised will be donated to First Nations Communities affected by the Bushfire Crisis. Entry to the event on 17 January is by a gold coin donation.
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