Prior’s Court’s auction goes virtual in bid for funds for performing arts centre built for the needs of autistic young people

Prior’s Court’s recent art auction, which raised £1,774 for the charity, has now gone virtual in a bid to raise further funds for their UK-first Performing Arts Centre.

The charity provides education and residential care for autistic young people with complex needs, aged 5-25 within a 50-acre site at Hermitage.

In a first for Prior's Court, the art auction was held there in July with artwork up for bids, made by artists from across Berkshire and items produced by the autistic young people at Prior's Court.

With the unsold items remaining open for silent auction-style bids until Thursday, September 19, a virtual art exhibition has now been launched for potential bidders to explore. Pieces are available from as little as £15.

The virtual exhibition can be seen at www.priorscourt.org.uk/artsteps and bids can be made via www.priorscourt.org.uk/bid

The virtual exhibition can be viewed on laptops, devices and phones and also - for a truly immersive feel - through the use of virtual reality equipment.

The original in-person auction total of £1,774 went towards the charity’s Performing Arts Centre appeal to create the UK's first bespoke performing arts space built for the needs of autistic young people with complex needs.

Prior’s Court fundraising manager Natale Norris said: “The in-person event was such a fantastic evening as it brought together the young people supported at Prior’s Court and established artists from across Berkshire.

“For those people who couldn’t make the event, we wanted to try to recreate it by launching this virtual exhibition to allow guests to feel as if they are exploring an exhibition.”

The catalogue of unsold items and bids can be viewed and bids made at https://priorscourt.pagetiger.com/art-auction/artwork-brochure

The catalogue and virtual exhibition will be updated as bids come in to help inform any further bids. The deadline for bids or offers for sale items is 11.59pm on Thursday, September 19.

The Performing Arts Centre appeal is close to reaching its £1.1m fundraising target and construction already under way.

Prior’s Court’s Performing Arts Centre will feature adapted facilities to support autistic young people with complex needs to access opportunities in music, dance and drama and the life-enriching benefits this provides.

Autistic individuals face many barriers to accessing the arts – from light and noise sensitivities to understanding of social rules – and one aim of the centre is to mimic theatre environments to prepare young people to access arts venues in the community successfully. This is in addition to having the opportunity day-to-day to express themselves creatively in a dedicated, bespoke space.

Go to www.priorscourt.org.uk/PAC to find out more about the appeal,