Auction raises money for young musicians

More than $7000 was raised to encourage appreciation of music in Kimberley children through the star-studded Oper-Arte auction as part of Opera Under The Stars last week.

A bold and imaginative piece by this year’s feature artist Helen Norton, depicting the experience of opera on Cable Beach, fetched a winning bid of $7600 at Oper-Arte Art Exhibition and Auction last Thursday evening.

The art exhibition has been described as one “with a difference that makes a difference”.

Total proceeds from the Oper-Arte auction of an original artwork kindly donated by the featured artist each year helps to nurture the musical talents of the children of the West Kimberley.

The funds provide the children of Broome and the West Kimberley area with increased access to musical instruments and materials.

In previous years this has been through donations to the six schools of Broome, the three schools of Dampier Peninsula and La Grange Remote Community School at Bidyadanga.

Brigitte Hoesl-Lindenberg of Broome was the lucky bidder who won the auctioned piece, Broome Opera, but it can be viewed as part of the exhibition of more than 28 other Kimberley-inspired pieces by Helen Norton at Broome Convention

Centre until 4pm on Wednesday, August 31.

Ms Norton said she had been excited to bring the exhibition to Broome.

“I lived here for 13 years and I haven’t been back for about 12. So for me it’s a chance to give back to Broome all the wonderful things it gave to me,” she said.

“I took it right to the extreme with colour. I thought, hang on it’s not that bright, but then I remembered it is that vivid. That’s the spirit of the Kimberley country.”