EDINBURGH.- Visual Arts Scotland announced B!D, a 24-hour online auction featuring the work of Turner Prize winner Martin Boyce and Turner Prize nominees, Calum Innes and Christine Borland.

B!D will officially launch on the evening of Friday 1st May at 6pm

This auction will raise funds for the second round of the Emergency Art Workers Support Fund (EAWSF), following a successful first round which was generously supported by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust, Inches Carr Trust, Creative Edinburgh and Art North. EAWSF is a temporary relief fund initiated by Visual Arts Scotland in mid March, when it became apparent that many art workers would be severely financially affected by COVID-19. This fund awards micro grants of £250 to those affected by loss of income as a result of the pandemic. It takes less than a week from the deadline for the funds to be transferred into the recipient’s bank account and as a result we have already helped over 30 Creative Practitioners.

So far, it hasn’t been possible to award every person who needs this fund, so VAS were delighted when artist John Ayscough approached them with the auction idea. The generosity, solidarity and spirit of the creative community has been incredible in the face of this pandemic. They see BID as a positive initiative to collaborate in solidarity, share and platform artists’ work online, and most importantly, help raise money to support those experiencing hardship at this time. All proceeds from the auction will be distributed through the EAWSF and the consequent support initiatives. Funds raised will join generous donations from Applied Arts Scotland and Panel, who are also supporting the second round of EAWSF.

Sarah Calmus, new VAS President says: “We are extremely grateful for donations of unbelievable work to this auction from an incredible selection of artists such as Callum Innes, David Shrigley, Martin Boyce, Ross Sinclair, Christine Boreland, Kenny Hunter, Kristina Chan, Claire Barclay and Barry McGlashan. We feel BID and the EAWSF are real acts of creative solidarity and positivity at a time where we clearly need to connect as a community more than ever. Artists supporting artists is alive and well. We hope it inspires people to support this cause so that we might help many more creatives and art workers facing difficult financial circumstances in these unprecedented times.”

Participating artists so far: David Shrigley Martin Boyce Claire Barclay Billy McCall David Fryer Otto Berchem Andrew Mackenzie Nicholas Carrick Mary Morrison Alan Currall Dan Wilson (Withered Hand) Inge Panneels Christing Borland Sarah Calmus Ross Sinclair Gareth Fisher Robert Montgomery Elaine Speirs Craig Mulholland Callum Innes Sam Ainsley Chad McCail Emily Bates John Noble-Milner Janie Nicoll Angus Reid Gordon Dalton John Beagles (and Ramsey) Chris Buncall David McLaughlin Aiden Stephens Mark Haddon Kenny Hunter Susie Leiper, Robbie Bushe Barry McGlashan Rowan Paton David McLauglin Sorcha Edward John Behm Catharine Davison John Ayscough Liz Douglas Simon Greer Lyndsey Gilmour Karen Purves Andrew Cranston Paul Keir Heather Lander Kristina Chan

The auction will go live on Jumblebee via the VAS website at 6pm on Friday 1st May and end at 6pm Saturday 2nd May.