World's leading artists join forces to highlight UK's housing crisis

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing

More than 50 of the world’s leading artists and designers including Grayson Perry, Sir Peter Blake, Marc Quinn, Miles Aldridge, Eine and Barbara Hulanicki have come together to create an exclusive exhibition and online auction to highlight Britain’s housing crisis.

Every week across Britain nearly 5,000 households face the nightmare of losing their home.

Housing charity Shelter has teamed up with creative agency Margaret and 20 Hoxton Square Projects to create ‘52 Weeks’, a unique show comprising artwork inspired by weeks of the year. All artworks will be available to view and bid for online.

The exhibition aims to raise awareness of the thousands of families struggling to keep a roof over their head. It follows on from the success of Shelter’s House of Cards exhibition in September 2009, which raised over £100,000.

Original pieces of photography, street art, sculpture, graphic design and painting make up the diverse collection which will be open to bidders across Britain in an online auction launched today.

Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry has donated a ceramic house to represent the week the BBC first screened its landmark documentary, Cathy Come Home, shortly before Shelter was founded in 1966. Other celebrities and artists involved include Sir Terence Conran, Vic Reeves, Patrick Hughes, photographer Tom Hunter and paper cut artist Rob Ryan.

The collection will be on display at 20 Hoxton Square Projects in London from Thursday 25 – Saturday 27 November. All 52 pieces are open to online bidders from today, at www.shelter.org.uk/52weeks with auctions closing next week.

Entrance to the exhibition is free, and members of the public can also place silent bids on a selection of the artworks at the show.

Campbell Robb, Shelter’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted that so many talented people from across the world have come together to support Shelter”

“It’s a shocking reality that as a result of our housing crisis any one of us could lose their home. This exhibition aims to shine a light on this and raise important funds for Shelter’s work to help whoever’s next.”

Graffiti artist Eine said: “I have chosen a week that was a particularly surreal one for me. The Prime Minister gave President Obama one of my artworks and suddenly my name was all over the news.

“This made me think about how quickly things can change, but not always for the better. Anyone can lose their home and find their life is turned upside down. By being part of this exhibition I hope to help Shelter raise awareness and money for their work to help those in housing need.”