Secret Artwork Raises Cash for Mental Health

MEDIA RELEASE

June 18, 2008

Secret Artwork Raises Cash for Mental Health Foundation

Artists from the NZ Art Guild have created an artwork that will be kept secret until it's auctioned on July 2nd. They have once again joined forces to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) through a charity auction which coincides with the Art Guild's 5th birthday.

The extraordinary collaborative project titled “Ngatahi” will be auctioned, along with other pieces of art kindly donated by top Kiwi artists. Ngatahi is a unique artwork, which consists of 64 individual artworks by 61 artists from all over NZ. The theme of the artwork is Together – our land, our people, our culture.

When all of the individual artworks are combined they will create an overall image and the artwork measures 1.3m x 1.3m. The complete image of the collaborative artwork is kept secret, even from those participating in it, until the unveiling of the artwork just prior to the opening night of the NZ Art Guild annual exhibition "Out of the Blue", which runs for the month of July.

All of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to MHF to further develop its resource and information service. The service is free to anyone who would like information on mental health, including consumers of mental health services, mental health professionals and the wider public.

“We’re delighted to be joining with the New Zealand Art Guild on such a unique and exciting project,” says Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation. “Our resource and information service aims to enhance and ensure mental health for all New Zealanders by providing a wide range of accessible information, and enabling understanding and support. The service is particularly important at the current time as demands are increasing, which we believe is due to the recession and its effect on people’s lives.”

You can help support people with experience of a mental illness, and their friends and families, by coming to the opening night and bidding on the artwork on July 2nd at the Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna Beach, Auckland.

This is the second year that the New Zealand Art Guild has raised money for MHF through a charity auction. Last year proceeds went to Out of the Blue, MHF’s depression awareness campaign.

ENDS

For further inquiries about the auction and artwork, contact:
Sophia Elise
Manager
New Zealand Art Guild
www.nzartguild.co.nz
027 630 1810

For further inquiries about the work of the Mental Health Foundation, contact:
Carrie Briffett
Communications Officer
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
carrie@mentalhealth.org.nz
021 918 220

Web resources:
www.mentalhealth.org.nz
www.nzartguild.co.nz