Hand painted roof tiles painted by artists, musicians and film industry professionals have gone to auction – to raise money to repair an historic cinema’s roof.
Thirty nine tiles lifted off the roof of The Curzon Cinema in Clevedon will go up for sale at the Art on the Tiles auction.
Artists who have decorated the 100 year old tiles include Aardman’s Nick Park, Peter Lord and David Sproxton, film critic Mark Kermode, actors Sarah Parish and James Murray and DC Comic’s Mark Buckingham.
Also showing off their creative skills have been Tolkien illustrator and Lord of the Rings movie concept artist Alan Lee and classically trained fine artist Clarissa James who has created a dragon sculpture using gold leaf.
The auction also features some of North Somerset and Bristol’s most respected artists including the RWA’s Stephen Jacobson and Alfred Stockham.
The auction has now gone live on eBay and ends on the evening of December 8.
Lots start and finish five minutes apart.
The auction can be accessed via the Curzon’s website at www.curzon.org.uk/art-on-the-tiles where images of each tile will also be shared.
Fundraising campaign manager Karen Edgington said: “The tiles were made in a local brickworks in the 1920s.
“Nearly 100 years later they have been transformed into incredible, unique pieces of art.
“We hope to raise a significant amount of money to give a huge boost to our appeal.
“Artists found it exceptionally challenging to draw, paint and sculpt onto such an unusual surface but the pieces that have been created are absolutely stunning.”
Despite repairs over the years, rain water has been coming in through the Curzon’s roof and causing significant damage to the building.
The future of the cinema is now at risk without an urgent, full roof restoration.
The charity launched its roof appeal in May 2019 to help save the cinema.
The cost of the restoration is £600,000 and the total fund currently stands at £408,000, raised through a variety of funding sources including the National Lottery Heritage Fund who have pledged £239,900.
Curzon’s CEO, Susannah Shaw said: “Artists and celebrities far and wide have responded so generously, demonstrating again how important cinemas, especially independent ones like the Curzon, are for the public as centres of creative inspiration”.
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