Artists For Water, an online art auction to raise funds for Swim Drink Fish, will be held from Feb. 25 to March 4.
This is the first year the annual auction will be online, and every dollar bid on artworks will go to Swim Drink Fish. Those not taking part in the auction can still donate money to support the cause.
These people have put pieces of art up for auction: Chief Lady Bird, Kent Monkman, Shuvinai Ashoona, Nathan Eugene Carson, Stephen Andrews, Michael Toole, Martine Côté, Dawna Mueller, Mel Gausden, Alex McLeod, Brian Poli-Dixon, Reinhard Reitzenstein, Steve Driscoll, Andrew Rucklidge, Laura Millard, Carolyn Livingston, Dana Claxton, Susan Dobson, Melanie Authier, Joseph Hartman, Tyler Toews, Jane Waterous, Ljubodrag Andric, Carol Wainio, Joshua Jensen-Nagle, Paul Béliveau, James Lahey and Edward Burtynsky.
Starting bids range from $200 to $21,000, depending on the piece. Bidding begins at 12 p.m. EST on Feb. 25 and ends at 9:30 p.m. EST on March 4.
A closing event featuring live streaming musical performances and a behind-the-scenes look at the work of Swim Drink Fish will take place at 8 p.m. EST on March 4.
Swim Drink Fish is a Canadian non-profit organization that was launched in 2001 and uses citizen science and communications technology to help people connect with and safeguard local waters.
Its monitoring hubs teach supporters how to monitor water health by collecting and sharing data. More than 800 people have participated in water awareness workshops and training activities, and approximately 3.1 million water health data points have been collected since 2011.
Swim Drink Fish is headquartered in Toronto and has regional Canadian offices in Vancouver, Edmonton and Saint John. It’s also active in 171 communities in 11 countries, working to promote swimmable, drinkable and fishable water through its applications and programs.
Swim Drink Fish’s work has led to: new rules that protect fisheries and beaches; providing access and navigation; data sharing; and preventing sewage and plastics pollution.