Bid for the Build Art Auction – tickets now on sale

Picton Fair: Crystal Palace Panorama by the County’s Gilles Miramontes is one of the paintings to be available for auction at the 2024 Bid for the Build auction Saturday, June 1.

Join the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) for a special, one-night-only fundraising auction of contemporary and historical fine art – raising funds to purchase a Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner for the County’s hospital.

On Saturday, June 1, art enthusiasts and supporters will ‘Bid for the Build’ viewing more than 75 curated works of art by professional artists and featuring both affordable and higher-end works, including paintings, prints and sculptures.

Bid for the Build is designed to be an elegant evening at the historic Crystal Palace, where attendees will mix with collectors and art lovers, enjoy bubbles and hors d’oeuvres and purchase significant artworks in the live, and cocktail reception, silent auctions.

The live auction will be the centrepiece of the evening as hotly anticipated works of art are auctioned by a professional auctioneer, who will captivate attendees with an entertaining banter and rapid-calling style.

Competition is expected to be fierce as attendees outbid each other for once-in-a-lifetime art experiences – including an original painting by Canadian artist Charles Pachter – just one of many highlights of the evening.

“The participating galleries have each denoted the starting bid levels for the works, resulting in an opportunity for art lovers to bid upon art that is accessible and highly collectible while raising money to support the PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign,” said Carlyn Moulton on behalf of Oeno Gallery. “The evening is expected to have good-natured bidding and competition, resulting in a win-win-win for all involved.”

Gallery sponsors include Oeno Gallery, 2gallery, Maison Depoivre, Mad Dog Gallery, Guildworks, and Hatch Gallery. Each has committed to collecting at least 10 pieces to be auctioned off at the event.

Auction bids Back the Build hospital fundraiser by $100K

“In 2019, the Bid for the Build art auction netted an astonishing $118,000 to support the foundation’s new hospital campaign,” recalls Shannon Coull, the foundation’s executive director. “The 2024 edition of this exciting fundraising auction aims to exceed that success and have an even greater impact on healthcare services in the County. Funds raised at our one-night-only auction will assist in purchasing a Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner, bringing this service to our hospital for the first time in our County’s history.

“In 2021/2022 alone, patients from Prince Edward County were referred to other regional hospitals for CT scans more than 2,100 times. These leading-edge technologies – firsts for our hospital and community – will revolutionize local healthcare options for our neighbours, friends, and families.”

The Bid for the Build committee welcomed RBC Wealth Management as the lead sponsor, along with sponsorship from CIBC Private Wealth, Watershed Magazine and Printcraft.

Seating is limited. At $50 per person, tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets are available online at www.pecmhf.ca/bid-for-the-build or by calling the foundation at 613-476-1008 ext. 4507.

Entry includes the opportunity to bid on the works featured in the live and silent auction, and gourmet appetizers. A cash bar will be available. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the opportunity to bid on the silent auction pieces. The live auction is to begin at 6:30 p.m.

For more information about the June 1 event and to view the catalogue of works up for auction, visit www.pecmhf.ca/bid-for-the-build. The online catalogue is to open at the end of April. At that time, absentee bids may be registered.