ARTAID Collects Goods & Cash Worth 23 M PKR from Donated Artworks

ARTAID Collects Goods & Cash Worth 23 M PKR from Donated Artworks

Islamabad –10 Oct 2022 : Art Aid, a Humanitarian initiative by Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts was held at Serena hotel. The live auction along with an exhibition and Silent auction was attended by a big number of art-loving philanthropists and received a very generous response in aid to flood-affected people of Pakistan.

ARTAID succeeded in auctioning a lot of work and received goods and cash worth 23 Million Rupees by selling and bartering just 50 % of the over 220 donated works of art. Renowned artist and former ED PNCA Syed Jamal Shah and Amna Shah hosted the event.

As a developing country responsible for less than 1% of carbon emissions, Pakistan suffers disproportionately from the effects of climate change. With over 33 Million of the population affected by the recent wide-scale flooding, Art Aid has reactivated its social mobilization network, uniting the community and opinion leaders to gather aid and resources to help the people faced with an existential crisis.

As a manifestation of Art Aid’s commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals, the organization has been active in the field during the 2005 earthquake, 2010 floods, 2015 Swat earthquakes, and recently 2019 Covid pandemic; to make a slight difference in the lives of the neediest.

The event was attended by various Dignitaries, Diplomats, UN
representatives, Artists, and Private sector Executives amidst animated auction, music and appropriate poetry.

Art Aid is overwhelmed by the generous response from artists beyond borders which reinforces the belief that art is always for life; hence it must serve humanity. And most importantly, the generous response of the people who acquired works of art generously donated by artists from Pakistan, India, Belgium, Portugal, Spain , Sweden, UK and USA.

From the government of Pakistan, Federal Minister for Board of Investment Ch Saalik Hussain visited the exhibition and appreciated the work and resolve of the artists to help the needy people in flood-hit areas of Pakistan. He said Art Aid has done a remarkable job by holding such an exemplary initiative.

Prominent among the guest were the Dean of Diplomatic Corp, H.E Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan and spouse, H.E Mohammed Karmoun Ambassador of Morocco, H.E. Mr. & Mrs. WADA Mitsuhiro Ambassador of Japan, Mr. & Mrs. Nadel Al-Turk Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Palestine.

The artists who donated their artworks included, Sadeqain, Jamal Shah, Jameel Naqsh, Bashir Ahmed, Rahat, Ali Akbar, Farah Mehmood Rana, Najmi Soorah, Summi Soorah, Kalim Khan, Ali Bukhsh, Akram Dost, Faizah Khan, Murad Khan, Hadiya Moeez and others.

Live music was another attraction for the participants in the event. Emerging singers Jia, Nauman, Mudassir, and Rajia won hearts with their performances on famous ghazals and songs. Mr. Aslam amused the guests on violin.

Meera Malik with cameraman Omar abbasi from Serena Hotel Islamabad for Pakistan in the World Islamabad