Canvassing for Samaritans
Antiques Roadshow’s Geoffrey Munn open’s one off exhibition at Royal College of Art
Wednesday 20 July 2011
- For
Immediate Release -
To celebrate Samaritans’ national awareness day 24:7, Antiques Roadshow’s Geoffrey Munn is set to open a one off exhibition at Royal College of Art on Friday 22 July.
Samaritans’ volunteers from across the UKhave been busy putting their artistic skills to the test, preparing to make this year’s national event the greatest one yet.
Sponsored by Admiral, this year’s theme, Putting the pieces together, 24:7 aims to show how every Samaritans branch is equally vital in helping the charity provide its 24/7 service.
Tasked with creating an image celebrating Samaritans, 119 of the charity’s branches have created a piece of artwork. Using all 119 images, Samaritans commissioned Artists Grit Hartung and Marilou Rabourdin to produce a national piece of artwork, incorporating eachsubmission from the charity’s branches.
The final artwork is a flexible structure, primarily made out of origami. Spelling out the words ‘Call US’ and ‘Join US’, it uses the branch images printed in black and white to represent night and day, symbolic of Samaritans’ 24 hour service. This commission honours the work carried out by the 18,500 Samaritans volunteers who answer more than 5 million calls a year from people in need of support.
Geoffrey Munn, the man behind Kate Middleton’s wedding band, and jewelry expert from Antiques Roadshow, will be joining volunteers and staff from the charity for an unveiling of the national artwork. ***SEE DIARY NOTICE BELOW***
Ceri Assiratti from Admiral said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Samaritans for the second year running. Having the opportunity to support this national awareness day is hugely important as the charity’s volunteers help so many people every day and it is vital that we raise awareness of their service.”
Catherine Johnstone, Chief Executive with Samaritans said: “Samaritans is the only national helpline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering support to anyone struggling to cope. Both the artwork designed by our volunteers and the national piece are wonderful celebrations of our unique service.”
Visit the interactive 24:7 website to view and download print quality images of all the artwork submitted by Samaritans’ branches: www.samaritans247.org/download
For more information, images or interviews, contact Claire Duncan on 020 8394 8345 or email c.duncan@samaritans.org
* * * * DIARY NOTICE * * * *
Press preview, interviews &
photo opportunity
Who: Geoffrey Munn, the man
behind Kate Middleton’s wedding band, and jewelry expert on popular
TV programme, Antiques Roadshow.
What: Samaritans national awareness day event: Putting
the pieces together, 24:7
When: Friday 22 July, 10am-1pm
Where: Royal College of Art gallery, London, SW7 2EU
Requirement:To request more detailed information or organise any interviews at the event please contact Claire Duncan on 020 8394 8345 or email c.duncan@samaritans.org .
- ENDS -
Notes to editors
About Samaritans
Samaritans is there for anyone feeling down and depressed or struggling to cope. Our volunteers are available round the clock to offer confidential support by phone: 08457 90 90 90 (ROI) 1850 60 9090, email: jo@samaritans.org, or face-to-face: visit http://www.samaritans.org/ for details of your local branch.
About Admiral funding
After a customer vote in 2009, Samaritans was chosen as Admiral’s charity partner. Admiral is sponsoring a number of Samaritans activities and employees are really behind the partnership. This year Admiral is sponsoring Samaritans national awareness day 24:7. Admiral’s support is helping Samaritans to implement projects like Connect, a new telephony system which will allow the charity to support an additional 100,000 people in need of support.
