People in Turkey and Syria are still reeling from the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit on Monday 6 February, with many around the world now coming together to find ways to support the Turkey-Syria earthquake appeal. As international charities and non-government organisations work tirelessly to provide support in the region, many in the art world have joined forces to rally their own industry, fighting to raise awareness and funds for the disaster. Here we’ve rounded up the charitable art sales and fundraisers to know about and how you can get involved.
Open Space Contemporary
Following on from the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, London-based non-profit creative platform Open Space Contemporary has organised an online art sale to raise vital funds for the Turkey-Syria earthquake appeal in the wake of the disaster, with artworks available for purchase in exchange for proof of a donation to one of several aid organisations, such as the British Red Cross and the Turkish-based charity Ahbap.
“We have asked brilliant and generous artists we have worked with and in our network to help donate a work for the relief efforts,” the organiser revealed on Instagram. Works sold so far include the ceramic artist Holly Stevenson’s EYE (£300) and prints from the Prague-based artist Radek Brousil (£250 each, in an edition of 30), and they are still accepting submissions of work from artists. So far, they have raised £7,500 and will keep the sale going until they have raised £15,000, after which time they plan to look into other long-term fundraising approaches.
John-Paul Pietrus
Celebrated fashion photographer and jewellery-eyewear designer John-Paul Pietrus holds a charity print sale every year, and this year he’s dedicating his fundraising efforts to the Turkey-Syria earthquake appeal. His charity drive is offering up £20 raffle tickets, which give purchasers the chance to win a pair of his limited-edition Francis de Lara Editions ‘Aviators’ (which are launching this spring and will retail for $650), as well as a signed gallery print of one his favourite ever photographs, which he shot for Harper’s Bazaar in Cappadocia, Turkey.
“I have visited the region many times, and Turkey holds a special place in my heart,” he wrote on Instagram. “I am heartbroken, as many of us are, at recent events.” As well as running his raffle, he will also be donating 100% of the proceeds of two pairs of his bejewelled Aviators – made of gold-plated titanium with an ethically sourced diamond and sustainable vintage garnet gemstone – to relief efforts for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria via Choose Love.
Charlie Mackesy x Choose Love
After partnering on a t-shirt to raise money for those affected by the war in Ukraine last year, renowned British artist Charlie Mackesy has joined forces once again with charity Choose Love to design a special limited-edition t-shirt – featuring a black and white drawing of his signature characters, Boy and Mole, in a heart – to help raise funds and provide aid to those affected by the earthquake.
On sale for £30, a minimum of £15 from the sale of each t-shirt – which are screen printed on organic cotton in the UK – will be donated to Choose Love. Since launching in 2015, the charity has raised millions to support refugees around the world with their unique model, which combines fundraising and retail to provide essential supplies and services for refugees. Proceeds from these t-shirts will help them rescue as many people, children and babies as possible in Turkey and Syria, as well as provide emergency medical care, food and shelter.
Mark Luscombe-Whyte
British photographer Mark Luscombe-Whyte – who has spent time in both Turkey and Syria – is selling off prints of his atmospheric photographs to raise money for the cause. He is offering up any 20×16 print of his work for £350, with £300 going to an NGO and £50 for printing and shipping. “I am hearing from friends in Turkey that the situation is desperate there and aid is urgently needed and time is running out,” he wrote on Instagram.
After initially only planning to run the sale for a couple of days and promising donations to a number of different charities – including the British Red Cross and Turkey’s voluntary search and rescue organisation Akut – he has since extended it in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the Disasters Emergency Committee, where the British government has pledged to match the first five million pounds raised.
