On December 7, the Sovereign Art Foundation will host an exclusive event at the Palácio da Bacalhôa in Azeitão to raise funds for its art therapy programme for children in need
The 2024 Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize is culminating with a unique event to show and auction off the work of its finalists and raise money for the Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF). The much-anticipated Gala Dinner and Charity Auction will be held on December 7 at the exquisite Bacalhôa Palace in Azeitão, with tickets costing €200 per person or €2000 for a table of 10.
The evening will feature exceptional wine, entertainment and art. But above all, it will raise awareness and funds for the SAF, a charity founded in Asia by Yorkshireman and art collector Howard Bilton in 2003, to use art to “raise money and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children”.
To achieve this, he launched an art prize, developing a unique model promoting contemporary Asian art to the public in Hong Kong while raising funds through art auctions.
In 2021, he replicated this model in Portugal with the Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize, increasing the international exposure of Portuguese artists and the Portuguese diaspora while raising funds for arts education programmes.
Marking the end of the 2024 Portuguese Art Prize, the Gala Dinner and Charity Auction will raise funds and develop programmes that help disadvantaged children in Portugal. This will be done using expressive arts as a means of education, communication, and engagement.
“In Portugal, all the money we raise is applied toward art therapy classes for disadvantaged children,” explains Bilton, who is currently implementing a programme in Estremoz in the Alentejo.
“Art therapy is a very powerful tool for sorting out behavioural difficulties, mental difficulties, all sorts of difficulties. What we are doing is using art to try to change behaviour positively and increase the chances of these children having a normal education,”
According to SAF, 22.5% of children in Portugal live below the poverty line. Howard admits that “giving them an art class isn’t going to solve that problem alone, but if you look at that sector of society, which is huge, and pick out those who have mental struggles on top of everything else, we can help a small fraction. And that’s better than helping none”.
SAF aims to expand nationwide. However, it is financially constrained. “The Portuguese professional art prize is the key to that. If it goes well, we’ll be able to do a lot. So, on December 7, we hope to sell some of the work at the exhibition to raise some money,” anticipates Bilton, adding that “in Portugal, a little bit of money goes a long way”.
For more information and to reserve your seat, e-mail artpt@sovereignartfoundation.com
To see the artwork, click here
By ALEXANDRA STILWELL
