By Jerelyn Craden

Great news for art lovers! After Fleming College Haliburton School of Art + Design’s (HSAD) annual signature Faculty Art Auction fundraiser was put on hold for two years due to the pandemic, it is now back online for the very first time.
“We’re very excited to be back,” Drew Van Parys, executive V.P. finance and administrative services, said. “The art auction is now in a new online format and is going well. There are a lot of bids in and there are currently 58 pieces available. That number will go up as we continue to add more pieces. And, we are very grateful for the support from our faculty and our sponsors. The financial support for art students provided through this auction is vital to their success.”
Typically, proceeds from the auction enable the support of 30 bursaries between $500 and $800.
“If we can do that again,” Van Parys said, “we will be very happy. That’s a lot of money for students who are always facing financial challenges, so for each individual student it’s really important and really matters, and we’re excited about that.”

Experience the fun of viewing and bidding on these special faculty-created works of art now until Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. at www.32auctions.com/HSAD_art_auction2022. Participating artists include Helen McCusker, Rose Pearson, Rob Stimpson, Susan Watson-Ellis, and Todd Jeffrey Ellis, among many others.
“I’m thrilled to be able support our students along with my faculty colleagues,” Luke Despatie, artist and faculty member said. “At the same time, it’s great to be able to showcase some of the incredible talent we have at the Haliburton Campus.”

And it doesn’t stop there.
On Aug. 11, from 5 p.m. 7 p.m., Fleming College will host an in-person gathering at the Haliburton Campus which includes a cocktail reception, special silent auction, and an art exhibition, Flourishing, in the great hall. This free evening is an opportunity for college staff and students to re-connect with the Haliburton community.
“We’d like to have as many people in the community come and visit with us in person. It’ll be a great opportunity to gather and share the passion for the arts,” Van Parys said.

Winning bidders from the online auction can pick up items in person or arrange for pick up/shipping onanother date by contacting Scott Walling at: scott.walling@flemingcollege.ca or 1-866-353-6464 x 6721.
Haliburton School of Art + Design is known for providing unique and flexible programs taught by professionals who have shaped art, craft, design, media and heritage studies in Canada. The campus offers full-time 14-week art certificates in artist blacksmithing, drawing and painting, photo arts, digital image design, sculpture, ceramics, glassblowing, jewellery, and fibre arts. Students can combine these certificate programs with a year of foundation credits to obtain a Visual and Creative Arts Diploma. No other college offers students this breadth of creative programming.
HSAD continues to run its short-duration summer arts courses, offering a selection of more than 300 courses from May to August, open to people of all skill levels.
For more information about HSAD visit flemingcollege.ca.