Local non-profit organisation, the Wildlands Conservation Trust raised just under R400 000 at an art auction and gala dinner held at Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom this past weekend. The tally included the auction of donated art pieces, pledges made by guests on the night and a percentage of art sales on the exhibition. Three hundred and fifty of Wildlands’ corporate and private partner communities made up the guest list.
The evening kicked off with an introduction from the CEO, Dr Andrew Venter, and the launching of a new programme, evolving out of the well-know Indigenous Trees for Life initiative. Sustainable Communities encapsulates the concepts of growing trees and collecting waste, trading these for food, clothes, education and other goods and then building on the capacity of motivated individuals by developing their entrepreneurial abilities. The Trust works with over 3500 individuals from some of South Africa’s poorest communities, growing hundreds of thousands of trees a year.
A moving audio-visual was also presented on one of the Trusts signature programmes Conservation SPACE – aimed at working with communities to expand and link areas under conservation. ‘The Somkhanda Story’ reflected on the long journey of the Gumbi Community in Northern KwaZulu-Natal to create what is today an operational reserve, awaiting proclamation, that belongs to the Gumbi’s themselves.
In between the 5-course meal, guests enjoyed some lively entertainment from The George Mari Band and an entertaining and fruitful auction led by Graeme Hawkins, which fetched an amazing R250 000 for Wildlands. All 21 art pieces were donated by the artists. Sarah Richards delightful ‘Chameleon’ bronze sculpture fetched the highest price on the night selling for R28 000.
Wildlands Chairman, Andre Schoeman ended off the evening with a round of thanks and 7 of the Trusts biggest donors were given paintings by well-known local artist Maureen Edgecumbe in recognition of their contribution to the organisation. These included: the Bonitas Medical Fund, also the sponsor of the evening, Unilever, Rand Merchant Bank, Richards Bay Minerals, BHP Billiton, Jojo and Masscash.
Top selling artists on the night included Leon Fouche, Sarah Richards, Bev Letard, Maureen Edgecumbe, Coral Spencer Domijan, Nicky Chovuchovu, and Chris Reabow.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)