To mark World AIDS Day on 1 December 2012, and the National AIDS Trust’s 25th anniversary, NAT is launching a Red Ribbon Art Exhibition at London’s City Hall.
The free exhibition will run from 27 November to 7 December and will be open to the public, showing an exclusive art collection created by 30 high-profile supports of the charity. The artists involve range from Annie Lennox, Gok Wan, and Dr Christian Jessen, to critically acclaimed artists like Maggi Hambling, Rob Ryan and Robert Taylor. Fashion designers Paul Smith, Matthew Williamson, Philip Treacy, Daniel Lismore and Giles Deacon have also all shown their creative flare with art featuring the iconic red ribbon – the international symbol of HIV awareness and support – as its central motif.
Alongside the exhibition, each piece of art in this exciting and eclectic collection is also being auctioned online in aid of NAT. The auction will close on the same day as the exhibition – 7 December – and bids can be placed online here. Starting bids are as low as £50 on some pieces.
Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT said, ‘The past few decades have seen immense progress and change and there is much to be proud of in terms of the UK’s response to HIV. However, important challenges still remain – such as the number of people who remain undiagnosed, and continuing stigma and discrimination – so our HIV policy and campaigning work remains vital in ensuring people living with HIV are diagnosed early, and treated fairly and with respect.’
‘We hope as many people as possible will make it down to City Hall to view the collection and consider bidding on the online auction. All proceeds will fund NAT’s HIV policy and campaigning work – shaping attitudes, challenging injustice, changing lives.’
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, added, ‘I am delighted that City Hall is hosting the Red Ribbon Art Exhibition for World AIDS Day. A lot of progress has been made in treatments and changing attitudes since the National AIDS Trust was set up 25 years ago, but more still needs to be done and the NAT’s work in helping people affected by HIV remains as important as ever.’