There are very few platforms in India that support art and artists while creating a difference in the world we live in. Art for Concern is one such. Initiated by Concern India Foundation in 1998, it works to promote Indian art and create a platform for upcoming artists to showcase their work. It also provides the perfect opportunity to art connoisseurs to buy works of upcoming artists along with masters of art.
The Art for Concern exhibitions display the work of both established and promising artists, at affordable prices. It is an excellent platform for upcoming artists to showcase their work and gives art enthusiasts an opportunity to build their collections, all the while giving to charity.
Approximately 14 Art for Concern shows are held across India each year in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurgaon and Ludhiana, with the brand going to new cities with every passing year.
The Art for Concern Annual Charity Auction has carved a niche for itself among the most elite art events in India. It was initiated in aid of Concern India Foundation in 2001 when the Indian art market was still at a nascent stage.
With the overwhelming support of well-established modern and contemporary artists, the prestigious Art for Concern Annual Charity Auction has enabled art collectors to acquire high-end artworks from renowned artists. It promotes Indian art, but more importantly, it contributes to the socio-economic development of the underprivileged sections of our society. It is heartening that artists renowned the world over are connected to local causes and development. Art for Concern has found support from several masters of the field, among them Badri Narayan, K. H. Ara, Akbar Padamsee, Lalu Prasad Shaw, T. Vaikuntam, Prafulla Dhanukar, Gurcharan Singh and Jayasri Burman.
This Summer they bring together a show titled, "Nature's Bounty" - An online show of artworks at affordable prices inspired by the sacred bounties bestowed upon us by Mother Nature.
We spoke to Shyamolie Madhavji who works with the organisation and gathered her inputs on the work they are doing. With the success of our Art for Concern exhibitions that display the work of both established and promising artists at affordable prices, we now take these shows into the online realm through our exclusive online art exhibitions. The aim is to give upcoming artists an opportunity to showcase their work to a wider national audience and give art enthusiasts from cities where we may not be physically present an opportunity to build their collections, all the while giving to charity.
Each year, the Art for Concern Annual Charity Auction endeavours to raise financial resources for Concern India Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation. Set up in 1991 with the belief that given an opportunity, people have the power to change their own lives Concern India Foundation aims to help the disadvantaged become self-reliant and works towards “helping people help themselves”.
Starting small, by extending support to two grassroots programmes in Mumbai, today Concern India Foundation has spread its reach to 7 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune. It provides financial and non-financial support to over 300 grassroots programmes working in the areas of education, health and community development bringing about a positive change in the lives of thousands of beneficiaries including children, youth, women, elderly and the physically and mentally disabled.