AN artist is lending his talent to the Council Partners Charitable Trust to encourage the public to support the worthy cause.

It is hoped that All Together Now, an exhibit of 24 original pieces by Robert Bassett, will raise funds in aid of the charity's telethon and give patrons a lovely gift in exchange.

According to Mr. Bassett, the idea that he could use his art to make more people aware of the Council Partners was one that appealed to him.

"The purpose of my doing the show was to assist Council Partners in its fund-raising effort," he said. "I'm an artist and I think big. The idea of (holding an exhibit) appealed to me as opposed to me making a monetary donation. O

"One of their missions is to be better known in the community. When you hear the name, what do you think of? What do they do? I can't think of any better way for an artist to draw attention to the Council Partners than to do a show.

"Council Partners had individuals and companies who had traditionally made contributions. What the art show hopes to do is enable them to make contributions as they have in the past, but this time they can come away with a piece of art work as well.

"I have already made schools aware that the show is taking place and am encouraging principals and teachers to call the Council Partners and reserve a day and time to bring students so they can get acquainted with Council Partners and what it is about, and the contributions that are made and where they go and why they're helping in the community and how everybody benefits down the line."

Mr. Bassett, who owns the Regal Art Gallery, said the paintings for All Together Now were created in a variety of different mediums - oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, mixed medium as well as a few acrylics on archival paper.

His work has been influenced by the modern impressionist masters, contemporary African figurativism, gombey dance troupes and Bermuda kite-making. Exhibits of his work have been held across the United States with his creations owned by collectors in Bermuda, America and elsewhere.

The pieces in All Together Now may be viewed in advance on the Council Partners' web site, www.councilpartners.bm, under up-and-coming events.

"I enjoy working with charitable groups but what attracted me to Council Partners is that they are very organised and they attract a real spectrum of people, everyone from the grass-roots level to people at the corporate level.

"Everybody works together with the same goals and purposes," he said. "In order for you to receive you've got to give. That's why it's such an excellent thing to be working with the Council Partners because they're all about giving."

The Council Partners group has been in existence for ten years, its main purpose being to raise funds for its four agencies - PRIDE, Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Focus Counselling Service and Fair Havens Christian Care Association.

Melanie Gardiner, administrative co-ordinator for the telethon, said: "It's extremely exciting. Robert got involved with us last year and this year, he approached us to see if he could assist us in some way. We're thrilled to have such a fantastic event and have Robert on board. (The idea) was entirely new to us and we've had a great response."

A private viewing of All Together Now is set for March 8 in the gallery of the ACE building. The show will open to the public for viewing from March 11 through March 18 between 9 a.m. and 2 noon.