Organiser Tracy Stroud said she was humbled by the generosity of donors with $80,000 being raised for Kelan’s Gift, a charity to help young Central Otago drivers go through the Tony Quinn Foundation’s Street Smart programme.
"It was way more than what we thought we’d do.In fact, we really didn’t have any idea, to be quite honest."
The Art on the Goldfields event treated guests to an outdoor display of sculptures for sale with Bannockburn’s spectacular scenery as a backdrop.
As well as the sculptures, there was live music, food and wine.
The bulk of the money raised came from the sale of sculptures, with 30% of each transaction going to the charity.
Ten of the large sculptures were sold on the day, and most buyers were from Central Otago, she said.
A dramatic sculpture by Wānaka artist Nicholas Lappuccino depicting a hawk catching a hare sold for $42,000.
One person from Wellington also commissioned a piece by Wānaka-based Metalworks, she said.
As well as the large sculptures, smaller items and platters were sold and private donations were accepted too.
Further support from the Hugo Charitable Trust also contributed.
Mrs Stroud said things went so well that she was confident about the next event, to be held in March 2027.
Art on The Goldfields and Kelan’s Gift charity were set up after the death of Mrs Stroud’s son Kelan in a car crash on State Highway8 between Cromwell and Clyde in March 2024.
Kelan had had his restricted licence for only a month and made a split-second decision to pass a truck and trailer, hitting another car head on.
"It was purely through lack of knowledge and experience," his mother said.
