Two Clare charities benefit from Mountshannon Arts second Hush Hush Exhibition
Mountshannon Arts committee are delighted with the response to their fundraising Hush Hush Exhibition which raised funds for two local charities, Clare Haven Service who offer refuge, support and safety to women and children subjected to domestic abuse in Co Clare, and Every Child Ireland who work to establish an ongoing back to school assistance fund for children living in direct provision. Hush Hush was the brainchild of Tara Considine, an art lover and local librarian who brought the idea to the Mountshannon Arts committee.
The exhibition was launched in Snug Café in Mountshannon with wonderful music entertainment by Manus Mc Guire in Nov and then continued in Scariff Library until mid Dec.
200 pieces of original art were submitted by artists from all over Ireland, Europe and The USA which were sold for a nominal fee of €40 and buyers did not find out the identity of the artist until they collected their art works.
A total of €2,500 was raised and Mel White, Chair of the Mountshannon Arts Committee declared ‘We are absolutely delighted by the amount of support we have received again this year for our Hush Hush Exhibition, and wish to thank all the artists involved who gave freely of their time and talent, and everyone who purchased pieces both on our opening night, online on our website and also during the exhibition in Scariff Library. We hope that these funds go some way to helping our chosen charities in their endeavours’
Donnah Sibanda Vuma, founder of Every Child Ireland, and Dr. Siobhán O'Connor, manager of services in Clare Haven, have expressed their thanks for this unique fundraising initiative which came at the end of another year of limited fundraising opportunities.
Dr O’Connor expressed her appreciation at Clare Haven being chosen as one of the beneficiaries. “ The kindness that people have shown in this creative initiative will assist us address the scourge of domestic abuse in the county”.
Donna Sibana Vuma says ‘Every Child is your Child was set up with the intention of establishing an ongoing fund to assist children living in direct provision with back to school provisions such as uniform, stationary, books and to assist with school related costs such as book rental and extra-curricular activities.
We are extremely grateful for the support and inclusion shown by Mountshannon Arts through initiatives such as the Hush Hush Exhibition. This initiative has not only helped us with the necessary funds to continue our mission but also does an amazing job at raising awareness about the plight of people seeking asylum in the country and living in the direct provision system. We are so grateful to everyone who supported Hush Hush.’