Arts for Impact on Their Auction Raising Funds for Medical Care in Gaza
Arts for Impact is on a mission to make a difference in a world where everyone is not only a curator, but also a collector of trinkets. Their team, consisting of Moon, Caroline, Lea, and Rahemur, have harnessed the power of their creative community network to organise an auction with the sole purpose of raising much-needed funds for MSF, an international humanitarian organisation providing essential medical care in the crisis in Gaza.
The auction boasts an array of one of a kind prizes, from the pages of Jeremy Corbyn’s poignant poetry book to Mica Levi’s guitar pedal. As well as bagging yourself a niche prize that will be worth its weight in clout, you’re supporting a vital cause. We spoke with the team behind Arts for Impact to find out everything you need to know about the auction below.
For those who don't know, what work is Urgent Care in Palestine / MSF currently doing, and how is Arts for Impact hoping to support them?
MSF is an international humanitarian organisation providing medical care in more than 70 countries. With an unprecedented humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, MSF teams have worked to treat the wounded and supply overwhelmed hospitals as indiscriminate airstrikes and a state of siege threaten millions of men, women and children. In Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on Earth, 2.2 million people were already living through a chronic crisis before what has now become a humanitarian catastrophe. As of 27 May 2024, over 36,000 people have been killed and 80,000 have been wounded according to local health authorities. In March 2024, a further 7,700 people were estimated to be buried under rubble. Over 1.7 million people are estimated to be forcibly displaced and living in appalling conditions that are unsafe and unhealthy – without adequate shelter, food, water or medical care. This number represents nearly 75 percent of Gaza’s population. Read more on MSF’s work here.
How did you go about galvanising so many people to get on board?
Us four collaborators [Moon, Caroline, Lea and Rahemur] , came from a mix of the fashion, music and creative world and we realised we could leverage each of our networks and communities to donate special items as well as spread the world. And obviously, 10 months on, the devastation on innocent lives is relentless and it doesn't take much to galvanize anyone with a desire to mitigate human suffering to contribute to a charity cause with the same ambition.
Were you inspired by campaigns like Cinema for Gaza? If so, how?
Absolutely. Cinema for Gaza, Prints for Palestine, Books for Gaza... there have been several charity auctions that have inspired us to galvanize our fashion and arts communities to donate fun, rare and personal items. Brigitte Lacombe donated 20 prints of a rare Edward Said portrait she took of him. Jeremy Corbyn donated a signed book of his poetry. Sumayya Vally created a one-off print from her Serpentine Pavilion commission. So many incredible voices of cultural significance have donated time, or precious items, for us to use our spending power in a way that 100% of the winning bids will go directly to Doctors Without Borders UK.
Are there any items/opportunities included in the auction that feel particularly special or unique that you'd like to shout about?
On top of the above, Mica Levi who just finished working on Zone of Interest's film score with Jonathan Glazer donated their guitar pedal, and have signed it as well!
We also have Chef Fadi Kattan, a Franco-Palestinian chef who has donated his signed book, Nabhiha Iqbal donating two tickets to her sold out concert in September, and artist Lubna Chowdhary donating a one hour masterclass to discuss making art. Annemarie Jacir is a Palestinian filmmaker from Bethlehem, has donated 10 personalised short film clips. Each individual video will illustrate something from our lives as Palestinians living in Palestine still. Foundation.FM is offering hands-on training from one of foundation.fm's resident DJs, covering mixing, track selection, and more.
What are your ultimate goals for the auction beyond raising money (e.g. raising awareness when perhaps people aren't discussing Palestine as much as they were)?
Our aim to raise as much money as possible to go towards the critical work that MSF is doing on the ground in Palestine. It is a drop in the ocean, but if anyone who wants to feel like they are not helpless in the face of this humanitarian catastrophe, then that's something. There is also power in community of the arts, and we see it in the way everyone we've approached has been quick to donate, offer support or is bidding.
Check out the auction here.
