The Rotary Club of Barnstaple Link’s President’s charity for this year is the North Devon Hospice which provides specialist care and support to people who are affected by a life-limiting illness.
Although many of their patients have cancer, they also care for people who have other life-limiting illnesses too, such as Motor Neurone Disease, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Rotary clubs simply cannot afford to overlook social media as part of their fund-raising strategies.”
Fund-raising for the hospice has been going well, but the Rotary club needed a project to take them through November and December which would be fun, innovative and a potentially successful money raiser.
The thought struck, why not turn a hobby of dabbling in watercolour painting into an online fundraising art competition with the proceeds going to the hospice.
‘Winter sunset, Sidmouth’ by an artist called Julie who entered the Professional category.
Social media is a wonderful tool for Rotary club fund-raising and a key plank of any online campaign. Twitter and Facebook made it much easier to promote the competition and to encourage participation from a larger, worldwide, audience.
Twitter, alone, has over 15 million UK users, who use the platform to engage in real-time conversations with not only their friends and peers, but also some of the world’s most influential people.
For this art competition, Barnstaple Link Rotary gained support from Rotary clubs, artists and celebrities from around the world reaching over 35,000 users through Twitter and Facebook postings.
Rotary clubs simply cannot afford to overlook social media as part of their fund-raising strategies.
The competition was opened through online postings to artists and non-artists in three categories; beginner, experienced or professional, with a cash prize for the winner of each group.
Those entering were asked to submit a photograph of their painting by email. Entries were received from all over the world.
For this art competition, Barnstaple Link Rotary gained support from Rotary clubs, artists and celebrities from around the world reaching over 35,000 users through Twitter and Facebook postings.”
The paintings were judged by two North Devon artists – Mark Woolacott and Clare Willcocks. Mark Woollacott specialises in painting detailed originals of classic and modern yachts and topographical town and cityscapes paying particular attention to the quality of the light and to the colours within the scene.
Clare works in watercolour, ink and gouache to create paintings of an eclectic mix of subjects. She creates detailed and realistic pieces which take hours to complete and are highly sought after.
The project exceeded expectations with £300 raised for the North Devon Hospice.
