Auction to raise funds for the Tutu Legacy Fund
A NEW, limited-edition print by renowned artist William Kentridge and a stay at a five-star villa near Hermanus are among the variety of works of art and experiences that will go under the hammer next week to raise funds for the Tutu Legacy Fund.
The in-person and online event will comprise two sessions, the first at 3pm, with the main event taking place at 6pm on September 22, the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation said.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting this premier event with our partners Strauss & Co and the French Embassy in South Africa. Their generosity is greatly appreciated,” said foundation chief executive Piyushi Kotecha.
The auction is part of the foundation’s 90@90 campaign, which aims to raise R90million for the Tutu Legacy Fundfrom October 7 last year to October 7 next year. Funds raised from the Art for the Arch auction will go towards an exciting new long-term exhibition celebrating the work of Archbishop Tutu, titled Truth to Power, which will open next month.
“Archbishop Tutu’s legacy has not yet been fully told, yet his courageous leadership helped guide our country through and beyond apartheid, and set an example to the world,” said Kotecha.
Strauss & Co executive chair Frank Kilbourn said they were excited to be involved in the quest to secure Tutu’s legacy.
“We deal with important legacy pieces on a daily basis, but these tangible assets only have their true value because of the intangible. Archbishop Tutu is one of the greatest assets to humanity.
“His life story shows how we can be when we are at our best. We’re looking forward to hosting the auction,” Kilbourn added.
A Strauss & Co auctioneer will conduct the hybrid auction live at the Old Granary, Cape Town, which will also be streamed in real time online.
The Embassy of France in South Africa is also marketing the auction to its stakeholders.
“We’re extremely proud and honoured to be a part of the celebrations for the 90th birthday of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and hope that this milestone will help to raise awareness of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation’s important activities,” said France’s ambassador to South Africa, Aurélien Lechevallier.
“The French Embassy will assist the Foundation in this auction on various aspects, including sourcing some of the items presented during the auction, and communicating widely around it on our networks,”
Bidders can register on the Strauss & Co website from today at www.straussart.co.za