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 Bringing affordable art to Newbridge | Kildare Nationalist (kildare-nationalist.ie)

Kildare Nationalist, Friday 31st January 2020

RTÉ presenter and Newbridge man Keith Walsh was recently on hand to help launch the inaugural Art Fair supported by Newbridge Rotary Club that will take place in the Town Hall over the weekend 7-9 February.

The art fair will exhibit a vast and diverse array of high quality work produced by local, national and international artists. It presents an exciting opportunity for both Kildare based art enthusiasts, or those that have always aspired to owning a piece of fine art for their home or their office, but didn’t know where to start.

The Rotary Club of Newbridge is running this exciting new event in the Town Hall with the intention of bringing affordable fine art to the town in Newbridge.

All artists are waiving 30% of any paintings or works sold during the event, of which will be donated to Sightsavers and local Rotary supported charities.

Eleanor Swan, a world renowned ceramicist, who is a proud Newbridge native is delighted to be one of artists leading the charge.

“I am thrilled to be involved in this project. It’s such a worthy cause and it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wonderful, creative artists and artistic talents that we have in Kildare. The poet Thomas Merton once said ‘Art enables us to find ourselves and loose ourselves at the same time’ so we invite as many as possible to come to our exhibition in February and enjoy the inspiring work on view.”

Other artists that will exhibit their work at the event with the aim of raising monies for the chosen charities, include landscape artist, Grainne Dowling, bog oak expert Brian O’Loughlin and abstract landscape artist John Kingerlee, Emmet Kane and many more.

Sightsavers is one of the organisations that will be supported by the monies raised through the sale of the art. Sightsavers is an organisation that is committed to eliminating avoidable blindness, and ensuring that those with disabilities can participate equally in society.

Ciara Smullen Head of Major Giving, is excited at the prospect of working with the Rotary Club in helping bring an event like this to the town:

“The Rotary Club of Newbridge takes a very active role in giving back to both the local community and internationally as well. This event is presenting Kildare locals with the opportunity of purchasing some beautiful art, and in the process raising money to help restore the sight of people living in some of the poorest countries in the world, and we are delighted to be a part of it,” she said.

The opening of the inaugural Art Fair will take place at 6.30pm on Friday 7 February, and entry is free, and everyone is welcome.