Have a Heart for St Clare’s Hospice

IT’S not every day you get to hang your artwork next to that of the Prime Minister.

But thanks to St Clare’s Hospice, that’s what will be happening when its Have A Heart for the Hospice exhibition opens at the Customs House next week.

Tyler Anderson

Community fundraiser Tyler Anderson, from St Clare’s Hospice.

The charity sent out hundreds of wooden hearts to celebrities, artists and community groups and asked them to decorate them as they pleased.

PM David Cameron, comedian, actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly are among the big names to have contributed to the fundraising event.

The hearts will be on show for two weeks and sold anonymously, so buyers have to literally go with their heart and choose their favourite design, rather than the name behind it.

After writing the title tags for the 182 hearts going on display, I have my favourites, and I’m hoping someone will pick mine out from the bunch.

The design incorporates calligraphy, naturally, but I can’t reveal which heart is mine until the exhibition closes – so keep an eye on my Facebook page!

heart1The Jarrow-based hospice needs to raise £1.4m a year to keep its doors open and if every heart sells, this event could raise several thousand pounds towards that total.

The hearts will go on display at the Customs House in Mill Dam, South Shields, from November 16 to 22, with South Shields-born animator Sheila Graber, who worked on the Paddington Bear TV series, compering a special preview evening.

A heart created by respected South Shields artist Bob Olley, of Westoe Netty fame, will be the subject of a private auction at the event.

For more information, click here.

(Pictures courtesy of The Shields Gazette and St Clare’s Hospice)

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