Anonymous art auction raises £1,500 for school

The Anonymous Art Auction raised funds for St Day & Carharrack Primary School and professional artists, children and staff were asked to contribute work

Art fans who bid for art without knowing the artists' identities helped raise £1,500 for a west Cornwall primary school.

The Anonymous Art Auction raised funds for St Day & Carharrack Primary School and staff asked professional artists, children and staff to contribute work.

Head teacher Susannah Storey said more than 200 people attended the sale and the single highest bid for a postcard-sized artwork was £65.

One bidder paid £8 for an artwork by Penzance artist Jane Lynch, whose work usually goes for hundreds of pounds, she said.

'Children inspired'

The money will be earmarked for the arts curriculum at the school.

Ms Storey said: "People were bidding on pieces without knowing whether they were created by students, staff or a well-known artist.

"People said we've made something affordable which is normally out of reach and there was a bit of a buzz, people sharing what they had won.

"One parent said she was delighted to discover after the sale they had successfully bid for work by children, teachers and a professional artist as well."

Ms Storey said the school was going to create an art gallery because "the children are just so inspired."

The funds will be used "so our children have the best high quality resources at all times to develop their art."