About Artopia

Artists: New this year!
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Online Art Solicitation Form (PDF, 375K)
(Online Submission Recommended)

Who: Big Bend Cares
What: Artopia 2010—Moving to the Museum!
Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time: 6-10 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, Tallahassee, FL
Why: To benefit Big Bend Cares, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides
education and comprehensive support to people infected with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS.

What Is Artopia?

Now in its 12th year, Artopia is a charity art auction featuring local, regional and national artists' original works, as well as a few signed and numbered limited editions. Attendees will have the opportunity to view and bid on more than 200 pieces of original artwork including oils, pastels, acrylics, sculpture, pottery, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, mixed-media, photography and more.

In addition, local businesses donate gift certificates or other items that can be bid on during the silent auctions. All proceeds benefit Big Bend Cares.

How Is the Art Sold?

Artopia 2010 will have two different types of auctions. During the first portion of the night, staggered silent auctions will occur, each having different ending times. Each piece of art will have an accompanying bid form that describes the art and shows a minimum bid. Attendees write their bid on the form, and once the minimum bid is made, others may bid against the highest bid amount until the silent auction closes. Whoever has the highest bid at that time, wins the auction for that piece.¹

The live auction contains the first-, second-, and third-place winning pieces and all of the Best-in-Show pieces, which are selected by an art jury. Each piece will be displayed and described by an auctioneer, who will open the auction with a starting bid. Each participant will then bid, by raising a numbered bid card, until the auctioneer has recognized a highest bidder.

How Do Buyers Check Out?

Check out begins after the second silent auction ends. All attendees will be given an individual bid number when arriving at the auction. All of the art they have won (with the highest bid amount) will be filed under their bid numbers. The highest bids for all the pieces each bid number wins will be added together. Winners can pay with check, cash, VISA, or MasterCard. Checks should be made payable to Big Bend Cares.

¹In the event of a dispute over the winner of silent auction items, the decision of Big Bend Cares officials will prevail. All sales are final.