ARTISTS in Northwich have given cancer sufferers a 'substantial' cash boost. 

Barons Quay-based community interest company, Visual Arts Cheshire, held an exhibition in December 2023 called 20x20, where residents were given the chance to exhibit work in any medium, so long as it measured 20cms by 20cms.

This was the third time VAC has held this exhibition, and it was a huge success, attracting 450 exhibits from adult and children across Cheshire.

Every year, VAC donates part of the proceeds from the exhibition to a local charity, and this year, it was the turn of St Luke’s Hospice.

On Thursday, February 8, VAC committee members invite St Luke’s corporate and community fundraiser, Angela Slack, to their Barons Quay gallery for a reception, where they presented her with a cheque for £450.

Angela said: "The paintings absolutely filled the gallery and created a stunning display.

“We’re so very grateful to the VAC team for their generosity in supporting St Luke's during their wonderful community art project.

“Donations like this mean we can continue to reach out to local people who need our help, providing expert care and support to patients and their families and enabling them to enjoy precious time together.

“Thank you so much to all the team for thinking of us.”        

This year’s 20x20 entries included pictures from students at Sandiway and the Russett schools, along with 60 pieces from pupils at Middlewich High School.

The exhibition is just one event of many making up VAC’s annual calendar, including the Northwich Art Trail in July, and the Winter Open, beginning on February 22.

The group also produce a Northwich calendar each year with paintings from local artists to raise funds for a local food bank.

VAC chairman, Alan Carr, said: “It’s been great to provide a venue for local artists to display and sell their work, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed to the 20x20 exhibition and helped us raise funds for St Luke’s.

"It was particularly good to see new faces in the gallery, including people who wouldn’t usually expect to see their work hung in a public space. They really embraced the project, and there was  work from an awful lot of youngsters too.

“With 450 entries in total, it was a wonderful response, and it really helped us make a significant donation to St Luke’s Hospice.”