Art Exhibition And Auction to Support Young People

Art Exhibition And Auction to Support Young People of Diverse Sexualities And Genders

A national organisation that supports young people of diverse sexualities, sexes and genders hopes to turn art into much-needed funds in one weeks’ time.

InsideOUT (www.insideout.org.nz) has organised an exhibition and auction of donated artworks to raise money for its work to make Aotearoa a safer place for all young people.

The exhibition will run from Monday 17 August to Sunday 23 August at Matchbox Studios, 166 Cuba Street, Wellington. Artworks will be available for purchase throughout the week, with an auction at 6pm on Friday 21 August. Full details are in the poster accompanying this media release.

InsideOUT’s National Coordinator Tabby Besley says more than 40 artists and craftspeople have contributed a wide range of artworks – including paintings, jewellery, sculpture and photographs – and they have been priced to be as affordable as possible.

“Most of the artworks will go for between $20 and $400, providing a really great opportunity for people to support our work and pick up something new to wear or display at the same time,” she says. “All the artists involved have given so generously and we’re hoping a lot of people will come along to both the exhibition and the auction.”

Contributing artists include Mica Still, Pinky Fang, Deano Shirrifs, Jamie Mackman, Joe Mcmenamin, Lucita Peek, Lucille Rauscher, Ellaquaint, Toby Morris, Minu, Sophie Oisea, Rika Nagahata, Scott Savage, Nathan M, Grimoire, Zach Webber – and many more.

Supporters will provide entertainment and refreshments on the auction night, turning it into a fun-filled event that also – fingers crossed – raises a good amount of money to help InsideOUT continue its work with young people.

“InsideOUT is run by young people, for young people, and all of the money from this fundraiser will help us to support those facing issues such as homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying at school. Our work making schools across New Zealand safer is vital for the positive health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA youth around the country, but currently our capacity is really limited by a lack of funding. The money raised will enable us to reach out and support even more young people.”

Tabby Besley, who’s 23, was recognised recently for her work supporting young people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. She was the first New Zealander to be awarded a Queen’s Young Leader Award, a new honour given to 60 young people from Commonwealth countries for their work leading change, and Queen Elizabeth presented her with the award at Buckingham Palace in June.

Her work with InsideOUT is a large part of that award. Among other things, the organisation supports students to set up queer straight alliance groups in high schools, and was inspired by Tabby’s positive experience of coming out with the support of a similar group at Nayland College in Nelson.

“There are still a huge number of young people facing bullying and discrimination in their schools and communities because of their sexual orientation or gender, and InsideOUT works alongside them to change that. We want New Zealand to be a safer place for all LGBTQIA youth to live and grow up in,” she says.

ENDS

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