– Leading artists Damien Hirst and Rolf Harris and more join Damon Albarn, Coldplay and Arctic Monkeys in Haiti auction
– Auction raises almost £35,000 after just two days
Artists including Damien Hirst and Rolf Harris and portrait photographer Rankin have joined some of the biggest names in music in a special auction to raise funds for Oxfam’s emergency response in Haiti, which has raised nearly £35,000 in just its first two days. They are joined by Shirley Bassey, Dido, Status Quo, PJ Harvey, La Roux and Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller.
Rolf Harris, who has contributed a recent painting to the auction, said:
“It’s heartbreaking. Millions of people have had their lives devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. I am grateful that I can help in this way. Every single bid has the potential to help change thousands of lives, so get into bidding mode, log on, and get onto eBay now.”
Rolf’s oil painting, ‘Pines on the Hill’, was created just a few weeks ago using a palette knife.
Other new items in the auction include:
- Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller: ‘Bless The Acid’ letter press print is 14×20inches, signed and dedicated to the winner.
- Exclusive Congo print from Rankin.
- Dido’s dress from the Life For Rent album sleeve.
- Brian Ferry: Exclusive, never seen before Roxy Music artwork. The print is an outtake from the Roxy Music album ‘Avalon’.
- Florence and the Machine: Limited edition signed print based on the ‘You’ve Got the Love’ video.
- Signed shirts and waistcoat, as worn on stage by Status Quo.
- A dress and shoes worn on the ‘Uh Huh Her’ tour and in publicity by PJ Harvey. This is the first ever PJ Harvey outfit to be officially auctioned.
- La Roux: Two Sylvie Markovina necklaces, signed on the back by Elly.
- Shirley Bassey: signed pair of shoes.
- The red Gibson guitar from the ‘Valerie’ video by Mark Ronson.
- Editors‘ Yamaha drum machine used for top ten single ‘Munich’, signed by the band.
- Chemical Brothers artist Kate Gibb has donated a hand-rendered silkscreen print of the album artwork for Brotherhood.
The auction is a rapid response from the biggest bands in the UK and beyond to the massive crisis in Haiti and Oxfam’s ongoing emergency response there.
The auction runs on eBay until Tuesday 2 February. All proceeds from the auction will go to Oxfam’s humanitarian response in Haiti. More items will be added to the auction over the coming week.
The full auction, organised by Glastonbury’s Emily Eavis and Oxfam, can be seen at www.oxfam.org.uk/haitiauction, but highlights include:
- A recording of a bespoke piece of music written by Damon Albarn.
- The Fender Stratocaster played by Alex Turner in the Arctic Monkeys’ ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ video.
- Chris Martin’s ‘Viva La Vida’ tour jacket, signed by all four members of Coldplay.
- A luxurious hot shower at the Eavis’ farmhouse during the Glastonbury weekend, for one festival-goer to wash away the festival excesses in style.
Emily Eavis¸ who travelled to Haiti with Oxfam in 2002 to meet coffee farmers supported by the charity, said:”Just like the millions of people who have already given so generously to the DEC appeal for Haiti, we felt it was important to do whatever we could to help as quickly as possible. We hope people will dig deep for some of these amazing auction prizes and help Oxfam to save lives in Haiti at the same time.
“I visited Haiti with Oxfam in 2002 and it’s the poorest place I’ve ever been by a long way – it seems doubly unfair that it should be hit by such a devastating earthquake, especially after the hurricanes of the last two years. They do not have the resources needed to cope with a disaster of this scale, that is what makes this so much worse.
“I know how hard people there work to try to survive: they have an incredible spirit and face hardship head-on without self pity. I can’t imagine how they are coping now.”
Oxfam is one of the 13 member agencies currently taking part in the Disasters Emergency Committee Haiti appeal, which has raised more than £45 million so far.
To make a donation to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque made payable to ‘DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal’ to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.
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Notes to editors
For more information, images, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Stuart Fowkes | 01865 472254 | 07818 406038 | [email protected]
For more information on Oxfam’s response in Haiti, please contact:
Rebecca Wynn | [email protected] | 07769 887139
Ian Bray | [email protected] | 07721 461339
The Magic Numbers prize is applicable in the UK only and on a mutually agreeable date. Travel costs to be covered if outside London.
DEC Appeal
To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal’ and mail to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.
Donations can be made at any high street bank, or at a Post Office by quoting Freepay 1449.
Text “GIVE” to 70077 to give £5 to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal. £5 goes to the DEC. You pay £5 plus the standard network SMS rate.The DEC consists of: Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World Vision.
The DEC criteria to launch an appeal are: The disaster must be on such a scale and of such urgency as to call for swift International humanitarian assistance. The DEC agencies, or some of them, must be in a position to provide effective and swift humanitarian assistance at a scale to justify a national Appeal. There must be reasonable grounds for concluding that a public appeal would be successful, either because of evidence of existing public sympathy for the humanitarian situation or because there is a compelling case indicating the likelihood of significant public support should an appeal be launched.
The DEC is very grateful for the technical advice and strategic communications support provided by BT to help us respond immediately to international disasters like the recent earthquake in Haiti. We also welcome the fact that BT are encouraging the public and their own customers to support the appeal.