Cash-strapped art charity puts collection up for sale
Gloom at New Light Art
A charity set up to provide opportunities for artists and art lovers based in the North is having to sell its prized art collection due to a lack of funding.
New Light Art, whose exhibitions have been popular attractions in the North East and across the North of England, is selling some 80 artworks through Anderson & Garland.
Among them are pieces by established and emerging artists, including Anne Desmet RA, Mark Demsteader, Anja Percival, Jo Taylor and Tom Wood, and some no longer with us, such as Norman Ackroyd RA who died in 2024.
The auction, due to take place at Anderson & Garland in Newcastle on Thursday, April 2, at 10am, offers a great opportunity for art lovers to acquire a high quality piece of contemporary art.
But many will have mixed feelings, remembering the New Light exhibitions at galleries including the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, and The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle – where, in 2024, it inaugurated its new sculpture prizes.
All proved to be very popular with the public, introducing them to talented artists who perhaps didn’t live far away.
New Light was founded in 2010 by Annette Petchey, an art lover who, on relocating from London to Ripon, professed herself delighted by the quantity and quality of art being produced in the North but dismayed by the dearth of places to display it.
She remains chair of the charity but its patron, hotelier Valeria Sykes, who has supported it financially since the start, announced last October her decision to step down.
The £10,000 Valeria Sykes Award has always been the main prize at the New Light Prize Exhibition while she has also selected the winner of a patron’s choice award.
Rebekah Tadd, who took over as New Light chief executive in 2019, said: “It comes with great sadness that the New Light board of trustees has made the difficult decision to discontinue the New Light Collection.
“As a very small charity, we have found it increasingly difficult to find funding to support the costs of logistics, administration, insurance and storage of the New Light Collection.
“In 2025 our wonderful patron of 15 years stepped down, and we are now seeking new funding to enable the charity to continue.
“We have a very exciting programme of events planned for 2026 and 2027 but if we are unsuccessful in securing funding, like many charities in this financial climate we are unfortunately facing the very real possibility that the charity will be forced to close.
“The incredibly difficult decision has been made to sell the works and use the money raised to further New Light’s charitable objectives to promote art in the North of England by supporting the development of art and artists in the region.”
As well as its programme of exhibitions and competitions, including the New Light Art Prize, the charity runs an education programme called Art for All which includes talks, workshops and school projects.
Until now, the New Light Collection has been loaned to places such as schools and hospitals to give people from all walks of life the chance to see art in everyday spaces.
Rebekah described the forthcoming auction as “a hugely unique opportunity to purchase artwork produced by some of the best artists in the North of England”.
And she added: “As a charity, we rely entirely on donations and sponsorship for funding and by purchasing this artwork, not only will you enjoy some of the most wonderful artwork, but you will be helping New Light to continue to support and cultivate northern talent.”
The New Light Collection, which has been growing since 2010 through donations and grants, includes more than 80 pieces by artists across the North of England.
Anderson & Garland auctioneer Harry Pickup said: “This is an incredibly rare and special opportunity to buy contemporary artwork from a hugely talented group of people – artists from the North.
“Obviously, it is very difficult for the charity to see the collection be sold but the eclectic collection offers a true gift for art lovers keen to celebrate northern talent.”
Viewing will be available on Tuesday, March 31 (10am to 3pm), ahead of the April 2 auction, at Anderson House, Crispin Court, Newbiggin Lane, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 1BF.
You will also be able to buy online with advance registration. To view the lots and register to bid, click here.