Exhibition stories
Art of Giving at the Saatchi Gallery 2010: Where Art, Music and Charity Came Together
Approximately 9,000 visitors. Two extraordinary days. A Banksy charity auction. Internationally renowned artists alongside emerging talent. Live music, celebrated supporters and a shared belief in the power of art to make a difference.
In October 2010, London's prestigious Saatchi Gallery became the setting for an extraordinary celebration of creativity, generosity and charitable giving.
Founded by Tracey Bambrough, with the involvement of her husband Ben Bambrough, Art of Giving was created to bring together artists, collectors, celebrities, charities and supporters through a shared passion for art and philanthropy.
The ambition was to create something beyond a traditional art exhibition: an event where beautiful, thought-provoking artwork could be enjoyed and collected while raising funds and awareness for charitable causes.
That vision came to life at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, London, where approximately 9,000 visitors attended over two public exhibition days, 8–9 October 2010, following a special preview and charity auction on 7 October.
The event combined contemporary art, photography, sculpture, music, live performances, an international art competition and charitable fundraising.
Among its many highlights were an original Banksy artwork auctioned in support of Moorfields Eye Hospital, a live auction conducted by Lord Jeffrey Archer and an emerging artist competition judged by some of the most respected names in art and photography.
It was an ambitious undertaking, but one built around a simple belief: art has the power to inspire, connect people and make a difference.
The vision behind Art of Giving
Art of Giving began with the belief that art could achieve something meaningful beyond its visual beauty or commercial value.
A painting, photograph or sculpture can inspire emotion, spark conversation, preserve memories and bring enormous pleasure to those who experience it.
But art can also become a powerful way of supporting charitable causes.
For Tracey Bambrough, the ambition was to create an initiative that celebrated both.
Art of Giving would offer established and emerging artists opportunities to showcase their creativity, introduce collectors to exceptional artwork and provide charities with a platform to raise awareness and funds.
The 2010 Saatchi Gallery exhibition was the first major expression of that vision.
Set against the backdrop of the financial pressures affecting many charitable organisations at the time, the event brought together artists and supporters who wanted to use their talents and influence to help others.
It was about making art accessible, creating opportunities and encouraging people to discover the joy of giving through creativity.
Bringing extraordinary artists and supporters together
The success of the exhibition was made possible by the dedication and generosity of an exceptional group of people.
Founder Tracey Bambrough received valuable support with the organisation and development of the event from:
Christian Furr — celebrated British artist and portrait painter.
Terry O'Neill — internationally renowned photographer whose iconic portraits captured generations of musicians, actors and cultural figures.
John Rendall — conservationist and author, widely known for his extraordinary story of Christian the Lion.
Derek Cattani — photographer known for his remarkable images of Christian the Lion.
Laura Lian — sculptor and artist whose work includes portrait sculpture and public commissions.
Their encouragement, creativity and involvement helped transform an ambitious idea into a major exhibition at one of London's most recognised contemporary art galleries.
The exhibition also brought together artworks and contributions associated with internationally recognised and celebrity artists, including Banksy, Gavin Turk, Jeff Koons, Mark Wallinger, Alexa Meade, Derren Brown, Vic Reeves, Noel Fielding and others.
From contemporary painting and sculpture to photography and live artistic installations, visitors encountered a remarkable range of artistic styles and creative expression.
But Art of Giving was never intended to be exclusively about famous names.
One of its most important ambitions was to provide opportunities for emerging talent.
Championing emerging artists: the Art of Giving Competition
A particularly special part of the 2010 event was the launch of the Art of Giving international art competition.
The competition invited artists to submit original work across three categories: painting and drawing, photography, and sculpture.
Its purpose was to discover talented artists and give them an extraordinary opportunity to exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery alongside internationally renowned and celebrity artists.
The judging panel was headed by celebrated artist Christian Furr, internationally renowned photographer Terry O'Neill and artist and comedian Vic Reeves, supported by a wider selection committee of creative professionals.
Following the selection process, 30 competition finalists were chosen to exhibit their work as part of the Art of Giving exhibition.
For these artists, it represented a rare opportunity to showcase their creativity in one of London's best-known galleries, sharing exhibition space with established names and reaching an audience of thousands of visitors, collectors and art enthusiasts.
The competition also provided an opportunity for shortlisted artworks to be offered for sale, helping both participating artists and charitable causes.
Among the artists recognised was photographer Edward Bowman, who won first prize in the photography category.
The competition reflected a central principle of Art of Giving: creativity should be encouraged and celebrated at every stage of an artist's career.
By bringing emerging artists together with established names, the exhibition created a platform for discovery, recognition and opportunity.
It was not simply about displaying art. It was about opening doors for new talent while supporting charitable causes.
Read contemporary coverage of the Art of Giving competition in FAD Magazine.
A Banksy with an extraordinary story: from a hospital wall to the charity auction
Among the most remarkable artworks associated with the event was an original piece by one of the world's most elusive street artists — Banksy.
The artwork, known as Gangsta Rat, had originally appeared in 2006 on an exterior wall at London's Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Depicting a rat wearing a medallion and holding a microphone, the artwork was covered soon after its appearance to help protect it from damage or theft.
For approximately four years, the piece remained concealed behind protective hoarding.
Then, in October 2010, it became the centre of a remarkable fundraising story.
Moorfields decided to offer the Banksy artwork at the Art of Giving charity auction, with the aim of raising money for research into new treatments for eye disease.
The story attracted national media attention, including coverage in The Guardian and arts publications.
There was even speculation that the notoriously anonymous artist might have returned to touch up the work ahead of the auction — a fascinating possibility mentioned in contemporary commentary, although not independently confirmed.
The artwork's journey from a hospital wall to the Saatchi Gallery captured the imagination of art lovers and journalists alike.
It also demonstrated the remarkable potential of art to support an important cause.
Alongside the Banksy, other artists contributed work to support Moorfields, including Joanna Brendon, whose own experience of deteriorating vision had inspired her artistic practice.
A painting by a young patient at Moorfields' specialist children's eye centre was also included in the fundraising programme.
The auction provided a powerful example of Art of Giving's founding vision: connecting extraordinary creativity with meaningful charitable support.
Read The Guardian's original 2010 coverage of the Banksy auction.
Read FAD Magazine's coverage of Banksy's Gangsta Rat at Art of Giving.
Lord Archer takes to the auction stage
Another memorable highlight was the live charity auction conducted by Lord Jeffrey Archer.
With artworks generously contributed to support charitable causes, the auction brought together the excitement of collecting art and the opportunity to make a positive difference.
The event also featured a silent auction, giving visitors additional opportunities to support participating charities.
Lord Archer's involvement added energy and theatre to the occasion, helping make the auction one of the exhibition's most talked-about moments.
For Art of Giving, it was a wonderful demonstration of how art collecting and charitable generosity could come together.
The auction was not simply about acquiring artwork. It was about recognising the stories, creativity and causes behind each piece.
Supporting charities across healthcare, humanitarian aid, education and conservation
Charitable giving was at the heart of the Saatchi Gallery exhibition.
Contemporary press coverage recorded 13 beneficiary charities associated with the 2010 event.
Among the organisations supported were charities working across healthcare, homelessness, humanitarian assistance, education, children's welfare, music and wildlife conservation.
The following organisations are among those recorded in Art of Giving's historical Causes collection:
Providing humanitarian assistance and support to people affected by emergencies, conflict and crises.
Supporting Moorfields Eye Hospital's work in eye care, research and the development of new treatments for sight loss.
Classic FM's charitable initiatives
Historically represented by Classic FM Music Makers, which supported access to music and music-related charitable programmes.
Working to end homelessness and support people experiencing housing insecurity.
Stepping Stones Nigeria
Supporting efforts to protect vulnerable children and challenge harmful practices and discrimination.
CHASE
A historical children's hospice charity associated with care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Shooting Star Children's Hospices
Providing specialist care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Supporting older people through advice, information and advocacy.
Using play and sport to help children learn, develop and overcome adversity.
Supporting sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust
Supporting wildlife conservation and the protection of lions and their habitats.
The breadth of these causes reflected the inclusive spirit of Art of Giving.
Rather than focusing on a single issue, the event brought together charitable organisations working to improve lives in many different ways.
It gave visitors the opportunity to discover new causes, engage with the charities' work and contribute through their appreciation of art.
Art, music and a celebration of creativity
The Art of Giving exhibition was much more than a traditional gallery experience.
It was a vibrant celebration of creativity, bringing together paintings, photography, sculpture, interactive installations, music, performances and charitable fundraising.
Visitors could explore artworks by renowned and emerging artists, discover new creative talent and enjoy performances that added another dimension to the event.
Among the memorable contributions was a performance by singer-songwriter Tallulah Rendall, alongside live artistic installations that brought colour, movement and excitement to the gallery.
The event also attracted interest from The Sunday Times Culture section, which, according to Art of Giving's organisers, arranged two events for its members in connection with the exhibition.
The combination of art, music, entertainment and charitable giving helped create a welcoming and memorable experience for visitors.
And with approximately 9,000 people attending over the two public exhibition days, the event demonstrated the extraordinary enthusiasm for bringing creativity and philanthropy together.
Fantastic reviews and national media attention
The Saatchi Gallery event attracted attention from the national press, arts publications and participating artists.
Among the most enthusiastic reviews was an article published by Catherine Balavage in Frost Magazine on 17 October 2010.
Reflecting on the exhibition, she described it as:
"One of the best of all of the exhibition's"
The review praised the variety of artwork on display, highlighting contributions by Stephen Walter, Russell Young, Derek Cattani and Drew Walker.
It also celebrated Boyarde Messenger's striking live art installation, the musical performance by Tallulah Rendall and Lord Archer's charity auction.
Read the original Frost Magazine review.
The auction of Banksy's Gangsta Rat attracted coverage in The Guardian, while FAD Magazine reported on the artwork's unusual history and the fundraising programme.
The emerging artist competition also received attention from arts publications, including coverage of the finalists and award winners.
For Art of Giving, the reviews and press attention were an encouraging reflection of the event's ambition: to create an exhibition that was artistically exciting, accessible to visitors and meaningful in its charitable purpose.
The power of art to inspire, comfort and connect
For founder Tracey Bambrough, Art of Giving has always represented something beyond the commercial value of a painting, photograph or sculpture.
Art can inspire us, challenge our perspectives, bring back memories and encourage us to see the world differently.
It can also offer comfort.
A beautiful painting on a wall can provide somewhere for the mind to wander. A photograph can transport us to another place or time. A sculpture can encourage us to pause and reflect.
And sometimes, in the middle of life's most challenging moments, those small opportunities to escape, reflect or find joy can be incredibly valuable.
The philosophy behind Art of Giving was to celebrate these emotional qualities while recognising another powerful possibility: art could also help improve the lives of others.
Through exhibitions, charitable auctions, collaborations and the generosity of artists and collectors, creativity could become a way of giving back.
The Saatchi Gallery exhibition was a remarkable expression of that belief.
A legacy that continues
More than 15 years later, the 2010 Saatchi Gallery exhibition remains a defining moment in the Art of Giving story.
It brought together celebrated artists, emerging talent, charities, collectors, musicians, volunteers and thousands of visitors in a shared celebration of creativity and generosity.
From the emerging artist competition and Lord Archer's auction to the extraordinary Banksy fundraising story, the event demonstrated how art could create opportunities, support important causes and bring people together.
But perhaps its greatest achievement was showing what could happen when an ambitious idea was supported by people who believed in its purpose.
Today, Art of Giving continues to celebrate the artists and supporters who have shaped its history while looking towards a new chapter of exhibitions, artistic collaborations and charitable fundraising.
The vision remains as meaningful as ever.
To celebrate extraordinary art, support the people who create it and help make a difference through the power of giving.
Art of Giving — Where Beauty Meets Purpose.
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Historical sources: The Guardian, FAD Magazine, Frost Magazine, ArtRabbit and contemporary coverage of the 2010 Art of Giving competition, alongside information provided by Art of Giving's founder.