RWA Secret Postcard Auction returns online - a major fundraising event in the national art calendar

Original artworks from hundreds of leading artists are being sold online in the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) Secret Postcard Auction (Until 23 September), following huge success last year with £107,000 raised for the charity.

Now a major event in the national art calendar, the Secret Postcard Auction offers collectors and first-time buyers the chance to purchase unique works of art by leading figures from the art and cultural world, from as little as £40. With hundreds of small artworks to choose from, dozens of lucky buyers will be in with the opportunity to snap up an original piece of art for a tiny fraction of its true value.

The event will be held online again this year as the building is temporarily closed as they work on a major £3.8m heritage capital project. Despite the success of the physical event in the past, the team were blown away when the online auction achieved an incredible £107,000, during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
The auction has always been a vital contributor to the RWA finances and features many world-renowned contemporary artists and talents better known in other fields, who are keen to support RWA - Bristol’s first art gallery, an independent charity which receives less than 1.5% of its operating costs from the public purse. 

The target for 2021 is at £40,000, which will enable the RWA to continue its acclaimed creative work across Bristol and when it reopens in early 2022, including free family activities in some of the city’s most deprived wards, and support for people with a wide range of physical and mental wellbeing challenges. 

Contributing artists for 2021 will include:
●    Turner Prize winners 
●    Royal Academicians 
●    RWA Academicians
●    Acclaimed photographers 
●    Internationally renowned painters 
●    Artist-illustrators 
●    World-famous animators 
●    And brilliant talents better known in other fields...

Alison Bevan, Director of RWA says “The Secret Postcard Auction is always a vital contributor to our finances.  Due to the impact of Covid-19, and our consequent closure for the Light and Inspiration project, it is doubly vital now.  As an independent charity that is hugely reliant on visitor, event and Drawing School income – and for the staff and artists who rely on us - the auction is really essential for us to continue to deliver life-enhancing creativity to communities across Bristol and beyond. Please join us online and have a browse and take part. It has always been such a fun event and there is no reason that needs to change this year. Many artists have been incredibly generous in supporting us, and as always we have a huge array of artworks to suit every taste.”

Audiences are encouraged to bid from the comfort of their own home this year from 13 September with bids closing between 9pm - 9.30pm on 23 September 2021. The identities of which artists did which postcard will remain secret until the auction ends.