The first contemporary art auction held at Bath Abbey has raised £9,000 for the Footprint project, organised by David Simon, the owner of a contemporary art gallery in Bath.
Former Sotheby’s auctioneer Freya Mitton gave up her time to auction work from artists including Eileen Cooper RA, Nick Cudworth, Robert Cary-Williams, Luke Frost, Peter Brown, Emma Rose, Ben Hughes and Diana Matthews.
David Simon, who has dedicated every minute of his spare time over the last three months, on this project, said: “I’m delighted that we raised so much money and I’d like to thank all the artists who donated their work – the quality and variety of art donated was just wonderful.
“I’d also like to thank everyone who came along to support the auction, especially our bidders. This contemporary art auction is just one small thing that I can do to help make Footprint – a really great thing – become a reality.”
The Footprint project is one the country’s most significant church projects and will transform the Abbey’s facilities for the community and for worshippers.
The Footprint project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Charles Curnock, Director of Bath Abbey’s Footprint project, said: “We are enormously grateful to David Simon for organising the auction, to all the artists involved and those who came along to support us.
“Footprint will enable us to improve how we inspire, engage with and serve our congregation, our community and our visitors.
“Thanks to Heritage Lottery funding of over £10 million granted earlier this year, and many other generous benefactors, there is now less than £1 million left to raise of the project’s £19.3 million total.”
Sharon Stevenson, Bath Abbey’s Fundraising Officer, said: “Bath Abbey, which is open to worshippers, schools, concert-goers and a whole variety of other visitors 364 days of the year, is in urgent need of repair and transformation.
“The Footprint project will help us to transform our facilities for the future. Thanks to the generosity of all these talented artists, David Simon, and all of those who came along to support our auction, we will be one step closer to making Footprint a reality.”
Find out more about Footprint at www.bathabbey.org/footprint or follow @bathfootprint on Twitter.
