Timeraiser: A Win-Win-Win Situation

Going once, twice and sold, for volunteer work!

Timeraiser is far from the standard silent auction: It matches people with volunteer organizations, finds non-profits eager help and supports visual artists. Coming to the Canadian Museum of History on November 8, attendees will pledge volunteer hours instead of money for artwork.

“This event is a way for people to have a really good time and also offer up their skills in exchange for a beautiful piece of local art,” says Meaghan Huet, the Ottawa Timeraiser Community Animator

Representatives from non-profit organizations in the Ottawa region will be in attendance to meet with people throughout the evening. They will help find volunteer opportunities that best match the skills and interests of participants with the needs of associations. Once matched with a non-profit, participants can begin bidding on art pieces with donated labour to their assigned charity.

“We talk about it as a win-win-win situation,” Huet explains. “Everyone comes out of this a winner,” she says referring to the artists, non-profits and community members.

Almost 30 pieces of visual art will be featured in this year’s auction. Ranging in size and style, the collection includes oil paintings, acrylic paintings on canvas and wood, along with charcoal sketches.

“A crowd favourite is always the work by Adam Colangelo,” Huet mentions. “This year we have a piece titled Spring Series No. 3, which is flame/acid-etched copper on wood panel.”

Nearly all of the artwork is done by artists in the Ottawa region and many of them will be in attendance at the event for people to speak with about their pieces. As part of Timeraiser’s mandate, all of the art has been paid for at market value.

“We make sure to support local artists and that they are given the opportunity to set the value that they want for their art,” Huet explains. “The most that we are able to offer is one thousand dollars.”

Winning bidders are not able to bring artwork home until their pledged time has been completed. Maxing at 100 hours, this labour can be completed over the course of a single year.

“In Ottawa normally all of the pieces reach one hundred hour bids which is really impressive and not always the case in other cities,” Huet says.

Since 2003, Timeraiser has hosted 64 events around Canada, six of which have been in Ottawa. To date they have raised over 160,000 volunteer hours and invested over $945,000 in the careers of emerging artists.

Covering a variety of issues, featured organizations include Meals on Wheels, Kiwanis Music Festival, Ottawa Therapy Dogs, The Children’s Wish Foundation Canada, A Love of Tennis, Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa and EcoEquitable.

This year’s Ottawa Art Battle winner Alex Andre will be working on live art throughout the evening. DJ Acro will also be providing danceable music for the expected 300 guests.

To purchase event tickets or for more information about Timeraiser, visit their website, Facebook or Twitter page.

Photos courtesy of Timeraiser Ottawa. Feature photo is “Inspiration Love”, an acrylic on wood painting by Chantal Brunet. The smaller photo on the left is “Spring Series No. 3”,  a flame/acid-etched copper on wood by Adam Colangelo.  On the right is “Voice of Earth”, acrylic and mica on wood by Marina Malvada.