Art On The Hill festival 2008

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Raising funds for the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

 The biennial Art on the Hill Festival returns this October to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability.

The biggest fundraising event of the year for the RHN, it aims to raise £100,000 to develop art facilities which will help to enhance the quality of life for patients and residents. A range of events will be held across six days, with many of the main attractions taking place in the impressive function rooms within the main buildings. 

The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability is a national medical charity based in Putney, south west London. The RHN works closely with the NHS and much of its work is in post-acute specialist rehabilitation for adults with severe and/or complex neurological disabilities incurred through accidents or strokes. It also provides both treatment and long-term care for people with severe and complex neurological conditions, including Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. The hospital’s focus is on restoring choice and independence, using technology to help people communicate and control their surroundings, and supporting families by creating a positive community. The charity aims to raise £2.5 million in voluntary donations each year which is used to enhance the quality of life for patients and residents.

The highlight of this year’s festival is an ART AUCTION and champagne party on Thursday 9th October. The auction will be conducted by Jonathan Horwich of Christie’s, and will include works by Royal Academicians such as Ken Howard, Mick Rooney and Eileen Cooper, as well as paintings by Maggi Hambling, Anita Klein and Jack Vettriano.  As in previous years, there will also be an exhibition of paintings for sale - which will again include the always-popular patients’ art (see notes below).

On Friday 10th October a LITERARY LUNCH will feature Sheila Hancock talking about her new book, Just Me. Sheila won the British Book Awards ‘Author of the Year’ in 2005 and tickets, priced £30 including lunch, are strictly limited. In the evening, a QUESTION TIME-type panel, chaired by Sir Trevor McDonald, will include comedian and writer Marcus Brigstocke, Justine Greening MP, Susan Kramer MP, journalist Anna Raeburn and art critic Brian Sewell, debating Putney’s Perspective on topics of national and regional interest. Tickets, £20 including drinks and refreshments, are again strictly limited for what proved the hit of the festival in 2006.

Saturday 11th October sees an ART LECTURE, delivered by popular art historian Barrie Garnham, on the 16th Century Venetian artist, Titian.

Running alongside the main festival, an exhibition of photographs for sale to the public will be staged all week, from Monday 6th to Sunday 12th, in the Exchange Shopping Centre on Lacy Road, Putney SW15. 

 

September 18, 2008