Charity artwork auction slated for Thursday

SYDNEY — Local ‘celebrities’ will put whatever artistic skills they have to work in the upcoming week in the name of charity.

The New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation, Arts and Culture will host “Canvas Conversations” on Thursday from 7-10 p.m.

The artworks created by a number of well-known politicians, business leaders, educators, and health professionals will then be auctioned off to the highest bidder by auctioneer Larry MacLean.

The two beneficiaries of the event are Caper Base @ Access 808, which acts as a drop-in centre for at-risk youth, and The Art Room, an artist-run studio that occupies the original art space in the former Holy Angels High School, which is now the New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation.

The artists participating will have 30 minutes to create their masterpiece.

Those chosen were Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke, Cape Breton Post publisher Anita DeLazzer, New Dawn president Rankin MacSween, Nova Scotia Community College Marconi principal Fred Tilley, Membertou advisor Dan Christmas, Centre for Craft and Design director Lori Burke, Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Peter McIsaac, Cape Breton District Health Authority director of mental health and addictions Dr. Linda Courey and paediatrician Dr. Andrew Lynk.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $4 for youth. They can be purchased at New Dawn Enterprises, Caper Base @ Access 808, Gordon Photographic, City Printers, the Cape Breton Post, at the door the night of the event or by e-mailing theartroom2014@gmail.com.