Bids totalling more than $6000 have been received in the Forrester Gallery’s silent auction fundraiser, which finishes this Sunday.

As the Uplifting Art Auction draws to a close, members of the public are invited to join the Friends of the Forrester from 3pm on Sunday (1 September), until the auction winds up at 4pm.

The silent auction for 22 original artworks is on the top floor of the gallery, and Friends chair Heather Machin says they are “delighted with the bidding so far”, and hope to raise $10,000 towards the planned extension for the building.

“People have really enjoyed the diverse range of works on offer and the chance to support the gallery as well as taking home a lovely piece of art,” Heather says.

The artworks have all been donated by gallery supporters and can also be viewed online.

Forrester Gallery director Chloe Searle says Friends of the Forrester has taken a lead role in the fundraising efforts for the gallery’s upgrade.

This is a final push for the approximately $8m extension to the 1884 Ōamaru stone building, which will expand the exhibition, education and storage spaces and improve accessibility.

“Initiatives like the auction and applications to funding bodies are ensuring the Gallery extension project can proceed on time,” Chloe says.

Building work on the extension is expected to start in early 2025, with the building completed in 2026.