Kiwis fighting poverty with paint

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Petra Bagust helped launch the campaign by joining a group of artists in a workshop day of painting. The auction for Petra's finished piece closes on Monday 27 August.

Artistic types around the country are using their skills to help children living in crisis situations overseas.

Art 4 Aid is part of World Vision's youth programme, Rampant, and is designed to get Kiwis involved in fighting poverty by donating their time and artistic talents.

Participants are invited to create a piece of artwork and photograph it, for entry into either the open media or T-shirt design category. The photo is then posted in an online gallery at rampant.co.nz/art, and auctioned to the highest bidder.

Participants in the open media category can use Trade Me to auction the works online, or hold a live exhibition and auction with friends and family. The proceeds go to World Vision's Children in Crisis programme. The winners will have their work publicised by World Vision, and reproduced in Rampant magazine.

Winners in the T-shirt design category will have their designs printed on to T-shirts by Wellington company The Hinitiative, and sold nationwide. A portion of the sales from each T-shirt will go to Children in Crisis.

Participants in both categories can choose from the following themes as their subject matter:

Me: Against global poverty
Away: Helping children escape exploitation
Freedom: Giving children orphaned by AIDS an education and the freedom to have a childhood
War: Peace not pieces

Children in Crisis helps children in countries like Mongolia, Tanzania and Cambodia by providing:
· Medical assistance for children who are sick
· Counselling and care for children whose parents have died
· Food and supplies for communities hit by natural disasters
· Education and opportunities for children living in poverty
· A place in shared accommodation for children living on the streets

World Vision launched the fundraising campaign this week with artworks by the Auckland group SPAM being auctioned on Trade Me.

Art 4 Aid draws New Zealanders' attention to the plight of children living in crisis situations. The bonus for artists is the public exposure Art 4 Aid will bring.

ENDS

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