Our art auction ‘If you can tell a story…’ hits it out of the park!

Our art auction ‘If you can tell a story…’ hits it out of the park!

08 Sep 2017

Our biennial art auction and exhibition, If you can tell a story…, was a huge success. With all winning bids and donations taken into account, we managed to raise an impressive $80,000! 


Image: Sitting at home in my underwear - Weather that feels, by Del Kathryn Barton

Image: Sitting at home in my underwear – Weather that feels, by Del Kathryn Barton

Every dollar will go straight to delivering more of our free creative writing and storytelling programs for marginalised young people, and will also take us one step closer to being able to open our brand new creative writing centre in Parramatta in 2018!

Thanks to everyone who got into the spirit of things and leapt into the bidding. Congratulations – and thank you – to everyone whose winning bid secured them a splendid piece of art.

This fabulous art show only happened because of the generosity and support of many, many people; and the Sydney Story Factory is hugely indebted to them all.

We would like to sincerely thank, first and foremost, the extraordinarily generous artists who have given to us this year and often in previous years too: 

Abdul Abdullah, Margaret Ackland, Ron Adams,Tony Albert, Narelle Autio, Bronwyn Bancroft, Del Kathryn Barton, Phyllis Batumbil, Sandra Blackburne, Blak Douglas, GW Bot, Mitch Cairns, Thanh Tam Cao, Tom Carment, Paul Connor, Dino Consalvo, Lottie Consalvo, Gabrielle Courtenay, Jo Davenport,  James Drinkwater, Michael Fitzjames, Belinda Fox, Will French, Peter Gardiner, Becky Gibson, Robyn Gordon, Jacqueline Gothe, Andrew Grant, Ian Grant, Samuel Hodge, Linda Jackson, Philjames, Locust Jones, Jasper Knight, Fiona Lowry, Debbie Mackinnon, Euan Macleod, Dean Manning, James McGrath, Reg Mombassa, Ro Murray, Peter O’Doherty, Susan O’Doherty, Nana Ohnesorge, James Powditch, Silke Raetze, Romance was Born, Joseph Rolella, Louise Tuckwell, Bruce Whatley, Neil Wilson, Joshua Yeldham.

Thank you all – we are humbled by your kindness and in awe of your talents.


Let it be, by Abdul Abdullah

Let it be, by Abdul Abdullah

Huge thanks also goes to Emily Simpson and Annie Tennant for very kindly giving works from their own collections; Lucy Turnbull AO for opening our show; and Ronan Sulich from Christie’s for conducting our live auction.

We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to Judi Hausmann and her fabulous team at Hausmann Communications – Clare Varden, Holly Simpson, Catherine Miller and Aidan Lynch.

Thank you also to Rod Denson at Jim Crofts Studios for framing so many works pro-bono; fxart + framing for framing a work pro-bono; Larry Macdonald for hanging the show so beautifully; Konica Minolta for, once again, doing such a gorgeous job of printing all our collateral for the exhibition; and Amy Hardingham for editing skills and other help.

We also owe thanks to Ali Yeldham of Arthouse Gallery; Samantha Ferris of Galerie pompom; Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery; and Sophie Bannan of Sullivan + Strumpf for their generosity and support; as well as Andrew from Vine Wine for discounted and delicious wines on opening night; David Glover for setting up our audio equipment; and Wendy Chung for spectacular photography. 


Autumn Evening, Womerah Lane, by Tom Carment

Autumn Evening, Womerah Lane, by Tom Carment

And, last but certainly not least, a sincere and heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteer organising committee, who have worked tirelessly on this project for many months with great good humour and enthusiasm: Delia French, Margaret McGregor, Margaret England, Neil and Jill Wilson, Petra Wilson-Jones and Niamh O’Brien.

You are all wonderful and we feel incredibly lucky to have your support.

Curious about how much each artwork went for? Visit 32auctions to find out.