Mystery auction bidders could win celebrity artwork

Gallery Town, the project which was placed works of art on buildings around Rotherham town centre, is hosting the Big Whodunnit fundraiser with Rotherham Hospice.

It is encouraging anyone from celebrities and professional artists such Pollyanna Pickering, Margaret Clarkson and Liz White, to novice amateurs to create their own piece, be it a painting, photography, cartoon, collage or graphic design.
Each piece submitted before March 18 will be exhibited for two weeks before each is auctioned online in April.

But each artwork will only be signed on the back, so nobody will know the identity of the creator of the work they are bidding for. Ged Omar, Gallery Town project manager, said winning bidders could pick up a piece made by a celebrity for just a few pounds.

He said: “When looking at ways to fundraise for both causes and via the arts we came across similar projects that have been run successfully in other areas. We are hoping to have lots more celebrities signed up by the start of the exhibition and we are actively encouraging everyone with an interest to take part.”

Other high profile figures signed up include Rotherham MP Sarah Champion and Coronation Street actor Connor McIntyre.

Mr Blessed said: “This is a wonderful project supporting two very different but very important causes and I am happy to be a part of it. I encourage you all to get involved and get creative.”

Rotherham Hospice’s director of marketing and fundraising, Peter Bradley, said: “It’s a great idea and we are hoping to raise a considerable amount of money from it, to benefit our patients and their families. If it is as successful as we think it will be, The Whodunnit Art Project could become an annual event.”

To take part contact Mr Omar via [email protected] or on 01709 970134.