A Battersea gallery is hosting a £2 raffle of a fine art painting to make the art world accessible to the public and emerging artists alike.
The raffle prize at The Artist’s Cup is a piece by Emily Malone called ‘Superstar’, which is normally worth £725.
A feature of every exhibition at the gallery on Battersea Rise, the raffles make art affordable to novice buyers and help up-and-coming creatives to establish themselves with all money raised going directly to the artist.
Emily said: “I think it is such a lovely idea because not everyone has £700 plus to spend on a painting, but most of us have £2 to spare.
“It means someone who wouldn’t normally be able to can own an original piece of art.”
Joey Scott, founder of The Artist’s Cup, opened the gallery in April to create a community space unlike traditional galleries which can feel uninviting.
Despite 66% of adults in Wandsworth visiting a museum or gallery in the last 12 months, one in five adults in the UK have never been to an art gallery because they think they are too ‘posh’.
Joey said: “I was really fortunate to grow up in the art world, but when I wanted to go to gallery openings or museums a lot of my friends would just not feel comfortable or want to stop in.
“So I wanted to create a very affordable, accessible place for people coming off the street and also artists who just want to get out there.”
The coffee-shop atmosphere and affordable price points welcome people from all backgrounds into the gallery, while the frequently rotating exhibitions and artist-led workshops give many opportunities for emerging artists to broaden their audiences.
The current raffle prize, featuring a tarot card nestled by a Grecian urn, is part of the aptly named Omens exhibition which celebrates the magic of seasonal change.
Raffle tickets can be bought until the end of the Omens exhibition on 12 November.
Watch the video below to discover how The Artist’s Cup is making art accessible.
Featured image credit: Painting by Emily Malone titled Superstar
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