"ART THAT NO ONE NEEDS" RAISES OVER 10,000 KM FOR PUBLIC KITCHEN

The humanitarian auction "Art that No One Needs" took place for the second time on May 8th at the Banja Luka Youth Center.

This event managed to collect 10,410 KM for the beneficiaries of the public kitchen "Meal of Love." Despite unfavorable weather conditions, the space at the Youth Center was too tight for the nearly 150 works and items donated by over 50 artists and collectives. The outcome of the auctions positively surprised the organizers.

"We were confident that we would raise more funds than last year," explained Nenad Bosnić, whose novel "Trosvijet" was also featured in the auction. "But we really didn't expect to literally double the amount. Visitors contributed 50% more money for the works than the previous time, and when we added the sum donated by companies such as Tropic and Moj Market, NLB Bank, Smart Office, and others, we reached figures that no one really expected. We want to express our deepest gratitude to all of them because we know how much this support will mean to the Mozaik prijateljstva association, which runs the public kitchen," the organizers stated.

Musician Andra Kiddo, who donated the premiere of her single and music video "Immortal," believes that the novelties of the second edition were crucial for raising the bar compared to the first event.

"One of the main goals was to expand the circle of creatives participating and the variety of art represented, to make the whole story more comprehensive, colorful, and attractive. In the end, it was pieces from independent fashion designers that were going for significant amounts, musical and dance performances received great reception, there were real bidding battles for tattooing and portrait drawing... Alongside all the photographs, paintings, books, and other artistic forms that have been the backbone of the idea from the start, we created an event that simply couldn't be left without buying at least some trinket. We want to thank all those people who contributed their works, items, or time, because it was only thanks to them that such results were possible," Andra Kiddo said.

"Art that No One Needs" was first organized in July 2023 when 5,002 KM was raised, also for the beneficiaries of the public kitchen "Meal of Love." Over 30 artists and collectives participated then, and around 100 works were auctioned off.