Artwork can help save hall

Sep 27 2008 by Daniel Thomson, The Journal

ART lovers can today visit the Journallive website for a glimpse of original paintings that will be going under the hammer to save Seaton Delaval Hall.

More than 80 of the North East’s top artists are to auction original works to bolster the National Trust’s bid to buy the 18th Century Northumberland mansion and 500 acres of gardens and grounds.

The auction, which will be held at The Art Works Galleries, Stepney Bank, Newcastle, is now just a week away and the National Trust is urging potential buyers to view a selection of the art on the website.

A National Trust spokeswoman said: “The art auction is just a week away and therefore I’d encourage anyone that is planning to attend or to make a bid for one of the pieces should visit the Journallive website.

“A number of the lots on offer are up there to be viewed and it’s an early sneak preview for many of the items. This is one of the first big fundraising events taking place in October for Seaton Delaval Hall and we’re hoping it’ll start off a big month for raising money towards the appeal.”

National Trust bosses have pledged £6.9m if another £6.3m can be raised nationally by Christmas to acquire the hall from owner Lord Hastings.

The art auction, which takes place from 6pm on October 5, was the brainchild of artist Elaine Paige, of Heaton, Newcastle, who decided to act after reading about the campaign to save Seaton Delaval Hall in The Journal.

She said: “I was strongly drawn to this call for help.

“The only thing I could donate was a piece of art, but I realised there would be others who felt as passionately as me about saving this wonderful example of northern and national heritage.

“The National Trust has asked the people of the North East to stand up and be counted and the artists’ community has risen to the occasion. I am proud of them.

“The auction will be a chance for people to buy something special in the form of an original artwork and at the same time contribute to a heritage cause which is so important to the region.”

Elaine said she hoped the event would raise anything from £30,000 to £50,000, providing a major boost to the target of raising £1m for the hall in the North East.