On Monday 14 October 2013 the highly anticipated Bridge of Persia fundraising auction gala was held at the Royal College of Art, London.  Coinciding with London’s Frieze Art Fair week, the Bridge of Persia auction and exhibition of auction highlights raised £320,000 (gross).

To view photos of the event please click here.

To view the Bridge of Persia Auction Catalogue click here.

Conducted by Christie’s, this event was the single most important fundraising event supporting Magic of Persia’s yearly activities.  Funds raised during the auction benefit the charity’s programs and beneficiaries, in addition to a selection of humanitarian causes in London and abroad.  This is made possible by the generosity of well-known and established Iranian and international artists, who generously donate their works to Magic of Persia.

Celebrated contemporary Iranian artists from both their home nation and the worldwide Iranian Diaspora, as well as internationally recognised non-Iranian artists, donated notable artworks to support Magic of Persia’s cause; Siah Armajani, Shirin Neshat, Parviz Tanavoli, Nicky Nodjoumi, Rana Begum, and Faig Ahmed have all donated to this year’s auction.

The beneficiaries of the funds raised at the Bridge of Persia Auction include the following humanitarian causes and MOP programmes:

-Omid Foundations, London: Strengthenening the social, economic and emotional competencies of disadvantaged young women in Iran

-Popli Khalatbari Charitable Foundation, London: Ilia Centre in Shahr-e-Rey for 285 Afghan refugee children who are not legally permitted to attend Iranian schools

-Snowflake School for Children with Autism, London: Improving the quality of family life

-British Museum, London: ‘An Introduction on Different Perspectives on Modern and Contemporary Iranian Art’, lecture series

-Delfina Foundation, London: Residencies for Iranian artists

-Goldsmiths College, University of London: Master of Research in Curatorial/Knowledge Scholarship

-London Film School, London: MA Filmmaking Scholarships

-MOP CAP 2015, London & Dubai: Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize

-Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, London: Education programme + Storytelling for families

-Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, London: Residencies for Iranian artists

Education, exhibition, publication, film and music grants including:

-Educational grants at the Royal College of Art, London

-Recalling the Future, Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London – exhibition grant

-Siah Armajani: An Ingenious World at Parasol unit, London – exhibition grant

-Iran: RPM Vol. 2, edited and compiled by Ali Bakhtiari – publication grant