Charities have been in the news a lot recently, though often for less-than savoury fundraising campaigns which bully old and vulnerable people out of their savings. So, I was pleased to hear about an arthritic 89-year-old pensioner by the name of David Hughes, who has come up with a novel way for charities to raise money whilst also giving something useful to the donor…
David is a self-taught artist who took up the brush in retirement, and has also written ten books about his life and the works of other charities. This year, he has been extra busy painting a series of twelve biblical paintings, including works of Jesus and Moses.
David’s idea is to offer charities a small touring art exhibition which could be set up in their own premises, or a vacant shop unit, or anywhere else with a high footfall. The beneficiaries do not even have to be a registered charity, as long as they have charitable objectives. Even a local community association is welcome to apply as host of the exhibition!
For each painting, the hosting charity will be supplied with a hundred individually wrapped miniature greetings cards, each with matching envelopes which they are able to sell to their supporters and the general public for £1. At the start of the exhibition, which would normally last for one or two weeks, 1200 cards will be supplied for sale. If they all sell, the revenue is £1200.
The original paintings themselves are not for sale, but full-size prints may also be made available. At the end of the exhibition, all the unsold cards and the paintings are returned, and the charity keeps 50% of the proceeds. The rest, of course, goes to pay for the cards in their see-through wrapping and accompanying envelopes.
That’s several hundred pounds for very little risk, a good return, and the public get a useful greetings card of their choice which can be used through the post on those occasions when an email really will not do. It’s a simple idea, but requires plenty of charitable organisations signing up to take the exhibition throughout the year, for it to really take off.
The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street, of which David is a member, is coordinating the exhibitions around the region, and Rotation John Tootill is taking bookings through 2016. Expressions of interest are now invited from charitable organisations who would like to raise money for no risk to themselves and, as his health allows (David had a serious accident on an escalator the other week and broke his collar-bone) the artist will be delighted to talk about his life and work.
To book the touring exhibition, or simply to express interest, contact John Tootill at j.tootill1@sky.com.
Atlantean
