PICTON, March 1, 2024 – Don’t miss your opportunity to be involved in the most talked about fundraising event of the year.

Join the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) for a special, one-night-only fundraising auction of curated contemporary and historical fine art – designed to help bring leading-edge diagnostic technologies to our new County hospital!

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to Bid for the Build on over 75 curated works of art by professional artists in support of the new hospital campaign. The gala evening will feature both affordable and higher-end works, including paintings, prints and sculptures.

Bid for the Build art auction is your opportunity to participate in an elegant evening at the historic Crystal Palace, mix with collectors and art lovers, enjoy bubbles and hors d’oeuvres and purchase significant artworks by professional artists in our exciting live and cocktail reception silent auctions.

The live auction will be the centrepiece of the evening as hotly anticipated works of art are auctioned by professional auctioneer, Julie Riches from Riches Appraisals & Conslut, who will captivate attendees with her entertaining banter and rapid-calling style.

The competition will be fierce as attendees outbid each other for once-in-a-lifetime art experiences while supporting the PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build Campaign. Collectors will vie for their chance to bid on an original Charles Pachter painting – just one of many highlights of the evening.

 “The participating galleries have each denoted the starting bid levels for the works, resulting in an opportunity for art lovers to bid upon art that is accessible and highly collectible while raising money to support the PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign. The evening is expected to have good-natured bidding and competition, resulting in a win-win-win for all involved,” said Carlyn Moulton on behalf of Oeno Gallery.

Without our Gallery Sponsors, Bid for the Build would not be possible. PECMHF would like to thank Oeno Gallery, 2gallery, Maison Depoivre, Mad Dog Gallery, Guildworks, and Hatch Gallery – for their support and commitment to our community.

Each gallery has committed to collecting at least ten pieces to be auctioned off at the event.

“In 2019, the Bid for the Build art auction netted an astonishing $118,000 to support the foundation’s new hospital campaign. The 2024 edition of this exciting fundraising auction aims to exceed that success and have an even greater impact on healthcare services in The County. Funds raised at our one-night-only auction will assist in purchasing a Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner, bringing this service to our hospital for the first time in our County’s history,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “In 2021/2022 alone, patients from Prince Edward County were referred to other regional hospitals for CT scans over 2,100 times. These leading-edge technologies – firsts for our hospital and community – will revolutionize local healthcare options for our neighbours, friends, and families.”

The Bid for the Build committee is thrilled to welcome RBC Wealth Management as the lead sponsor of Bid for the Build. The dedication of sponsors, like RBC, will help maximize proceeds for this auction and show how these partnerships can help us reach our goal of a new hospital.

“RBC Wealth Management is proud to sponsor Bid for the Build that benefits the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Back the Build campaign. Bringing attention to our local hospital and supporting the future of healthcare in this community is paramount to delivering the standard of care everyone deserves now and for years to come,” said Lisa Thompson, Senior Portfolio Manager and Wealth Advisor.

“We thank RBC Wealth Management for sponsoring this art auction and gala evening. As the hospital foundation gears up for an inspiring campaign to build a new hospital in Prince Edward County, we are grateful for the outpouring of support from businesses like RBC, who are as committed as we are to seeing a new hospital built in our community,” said Coull.

Seating is limited. At $50.00 per person, tickets will sell out quickly. Tickets are available online at www.pecmhf.ca/bid-for-the-build or by calling the foundation at 613-476-1008 ext. 4507. Absentee bids may also be registered online.

Entry includes the opportunity to bid on the works featured in the live and silent auction and gourmet appetizers. A cash bar will be available. The cocktail reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with the opportunity to bid on the silent auction pieces. The live auction will commence at 6:30 p.m.

Mark your calendar for June 1 so you won’t miss out on an elegant evening in support of our new hospital.

For more information about the event and to view the catalogue of works up for auction on June 1, please visit www.pecmhf.ca/bid-for-the-build. An online auction of the works available will open in early May.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the people of Prince Edward County and patients of the hospital. 

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Photo: Picton Fair: Crystal Palace Panorama by Gilles Miramontes is one of the paintings available for auction at Bid for the Build on Saturday, June 1, 2024.