Women’s Refuge New Zealand has just received $180,000 – the proceeds of last year’s highly successful NZ Sculpture OnShore exhibition, held in Devonport, on Auckland’s North Shore.

The exhibition, which attracted around 19,000 visitors and featured work from over 100 artists, has been held every two years since 1986. It is organised specifically to raise funds for Women’s Refuge, and has to date donated over $1.5 million to the organisation, making it Refuge’s largest source of private funding.

Accepting the cheque on behalf of Women’s Refuge, the new CEO Dr Ang Jury said “Over 20,000 women and children need our services each year. On average, we answer a call to our Helpline every six minutes and provide beds for over 200 women and children each night in our shelters.

“For twenty years, your regular donations have not only helped us to care for those women and children, but have supported projects aimed at developing sustainable long-term income for refuge.

“I congratulate and thank everyone involved in NZ Sculpture OnShore. So many talented, dedicated and compassionate people; from the fantastic artists to the organisers and those who volunteer on the day; you contribute so much to Women’s Refuge and we are very grateful.”

Photo: Alix Bachmann, Chair, Friends of Women's Refuges Trust, with Dr Ang Jury of Women's Refuge NZ and Sally Dewar, Chair, NZ Sculpture OnShore. Photo: Ronald Andreassend.