What a prize!

This guitar is becoming more and more unique and valuable! The custom painted Gibson Les Paul Epiphone has now been signed by Rod Jones, guitarist from Idlewild (left), exceptionally talented jazz musician Graeme Stephen (top), the members of Frightened Rabbit and also rising stars We Were Promised Jetpacks (centre)! For more details about the guitar or to get raffle tickets (£1 each) please go to http://www.trevorjonesart.com/

[fi-lan-thruh-pee]

Philanthropy

noun; an activity performed with the goal of promoting the well-being of fellow man.

There has been a lot of interest of late concerning philanthropic activity. Bill Gates for example has managed to persuade 40 other American billionaires to give at least half their fortunes away to good causes. Gates established a foundation in 1994 and since then he has donated nearly $23 billion for health and development in poor countries and to improve access for Americans to opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.

(photo: Hard Rock Cafe staff member, Mike Hawker, promoting his 'Tour for a Cure' fundraiser)

However, as the definition above suggests, philanthropy is not only about giving away one's monetary wealth. It also incorporates the ‘altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement’ and therefore, any kind act with intent to better another individual or group’s situation or lives could be considered a philanthropic act.

On that note, I would like to draw your attention to the huge amount of energy and resources that a local business is expending to help our charitable organisation. Like many charities at the moment, we are struggling financially to make ends meet. I approached Dave Pellow, the General Manager at the Hard Rock Café, Edinburgh near the beginning of the year to ask if he would be interested in helping raise money for Art in Healthcare. Mr. Pellow thought it was an excellent idea as, although the HRC regularly raises money for various causes around the world, this would be the first opportunity for the Edinburgh restaurant to help a local and very ‘visible’ charitable organisation.

Since then, we have been working closely with the Hard Rock Café on a fundraising project involving a hand painted Gibson Epiphone guitar. Prize draw tickets to win the guitar have been printed and can be picked up at the restaurant as well as at the UNIONgallery. With the Edinburgh Festival taking place this month, the Hard Rock Café is, as usual, heaving with thousands of people from far and wide. I’ve been told the entire staff at the restaurant (and there are a lot of them!) have all been working exceptionally hard letting the visitors from around the world know about this guitar prize draw and also about the charity behind it. A special mention goes out to Mr Mike Hawker, who has taken this almost as a personal crusade to raise money for our charity.

Interestingly, Mr Hawker ‘Edinburgh’s Hard Rock Café leading philanthropic ambassador', organised his own charity event to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer Research, last Father’s Day. Including a day with fun filled activities for the whole family, he also drummed up support from the Harley Davidson’s Dunedin Chapter to provide rides along George Street for the guests. Then, Mr Hawker himself, toured around the UK on his ‘Tour for a Cure’ road trip to continue to raise awareness and funds for his cause.

This just goes to show that we don't all have to be like Bill Gates or other billionaires, offering up half our fortunes to make a difference. Whether it's one business, like the Hard Rock Cafe helping a local charity or even one person, such as Mike Hawker, taking it upon himself to make the world just a little bit better - we can all do something that counts for an act of philanthropy. It doesn't have to be big; it doesn't have to be worth billions, it just has to be about spending a little time doing something worthwhile for someone else.

If you would like prize draw tickets for the Epiphone guitar please visit this link HERE

photos courtesy of the Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh Facebook Page

Win a custom painted Epiphone guitar by Gibson!

The ballot cards for the Art in Healthcare charity fundraiser have arrived from the Hard Rock Cafe! So who wants to win this guitar?

Oh, and good news for all our overseas friends, this prize draw is open not just to UK residents but to anyone.

No purchase is necessary but donations to Art in Healthcare would be greatly appreciated. Just click on these links to donate at the Art in Healthcare website or at the artist, Trevor Jones' website.

Draw Date: 31 December 2010

Good Luck!!

GET INVOLVED with Edinburgh University Art in Healthcare Society

Are you full of bright ideas? Organised and committed? Keen to enhance your CV? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, Art in Healthcare needs YOU!

An exciting new society, associated with the Scottish charity Art in Healthcare, will be launched at the University of Edinburgh in September 2010. The Edinburgh University Art in Healthcare Society is currently advertising for the positions of President, Secretary and Treasurer. The only condition is that you must be a matriculated student at the University of Edinburgh. If you think that you could be the one for the job, get in touch!

If you are interested in fulfilling one of these roles on the committee or in becoming an active member of the society, please come along to an information meeting at the end of April to find out more.

• 6.30pm
• Thursday, 29th April
• Balcony Room, Teviot, University of Edinburgh

If you cannot make it to the meeting, but are still interested, please get in touch.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference and gain valuable experience at the same time. We look forward to hearing from you!

AiH x

The Thrill of it All

We were delighted to see many of our members at Ingleby Gallery on Tuesday 16 March for another stimulating HEART Event. Thank you all for coming!



The exhibition of Peter Liversidge's latest work at Ingleby Gallery was well worth the visit and made even better by the opportunity to view the exhibition in a group and discuss the artwork afterwards.

David Mackay, who works at Ingleby Gallery, gave us an excellent introduction to the exhibition and shed a great deal of light on Liversidge's artistic process, which is quite unique. We were then free to explore the artwork displayed throughout the gallery, which we had all to ourselves, before reconvening to ask David lots of questions and have a good chat about the exhibition.

The breadth of Liversidge's creative practice is striking, as is his limitless imaginition. Reading through the framed proposals, which are arranged in a single line at eye level in the downstairs gallery, we spotted some highly amusing ideas, as well as some very simple, personal and moving suggestions. David also treated us to some hilarious anecdotes relating to the realisation of certain proposals. I don't think any of us will be asking Peter Liversidge to cook us a fish pie in a hurry!

The HEART Event at Ingleby Gallery provided a fascinating insight into all of the stages of Liversidge's creative process and I can safely say that we all left the gallery with big smiles on our faces, having been touched and tickled by Peter Liversidge's work.

Thank you very much to David Mackay and everyone else at Ingleby Gallery for hosting this event and allowing us to stay after closing time!

AiH x

Tynepark Resource Centre

An exciting project has been underway at the Tynepark Resource Centre over the last three months. Art in Healthcare has donated nineteen artworks from the permanent collection for no charge to this resource centre dedicated to mental health for a period of one year. This effort was undertaken by Art in Healthcare to further the aims of the Scottish government in reaching a healthier and happier Scotland, particularly regarding mental health.

The goal is to get patients, staff members and visitors to engage with the artwork in the centre to improve the experience of those who find themselves in healthcare centres on a regular basis. To encourage interaction between art and viewers, Art in Healthcare asked ten people to help select a variety of paintings, prints, and other works to display at Tynepark. Since staff members and patients got to choose what artworks were selected, they showed greater interest in and appreciation for the art.

An informal art talk was presented by an intern with Art in Healthcare as well as Trevor Jones, the assistant director, in order to provide as much information as possible to the patrons to help them find different ways to connect with the art. Overall, this project has been a huge success! The feedback from staff, patients, and visitors has been very positive, and Art in Healthcare hopes these results will impact other healthcare centres throughout Scotland as they see the benefits of displaying artwork in a healing environment.

The images below are a sampling of the works selected by a group of staff members and patients from Tynepark Resource Centre:

Sara Beevers, Sopwith Camel

K. Hayes, The Lighthouse

Gill Tyson, Doubtful Spring

 

Carol Robertson, November the 5th

Michael Forbes, What's For Tea?

Expanding the Collection

Thanks to a generous donation from the Marjorie Ina Campbell Estate, Art in Healthcare has expanded its permanent collection with sixteen works from this respected Scottish artist.

Campbell (1936-1999) was a prolific artist with experience as a painter, illustrator, graphic designer, quilter, printer and glass designer. She began drawing and painting when she was a young girl and later studied under Sir William George Gillies at Edinburgh College of Art. If you or anyone you know is interested in displaying these beautiful works, contact Art in Healthcare at admin@artinhealth.org.

Enjoy a sneak peak!

Feel free to contact Art in Healthcare with any queries about these and other artworks by Marjorie Campbell.

AiH