Thank you to everyone who took part in our Secret Postcard Auction

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s Secret Postcard Auction. It has been an extraordinary year, raising over £92,000 to support the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) and our mission to foster lifelong journeys with art.

We are so grateful for the incredible generosity of our community and would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who got involved — including:

🎨 Over 260 artists who donated more than 400 original artworks for the auction
💬 Over 1,000 bidders who took part and helped drive the excitement online
🙌 20+ volunteers who supported the event through stewarding and our lively After Hours celebration
💌 Hundreds of supporters who helped spread the word both in person and across social media

Your contributions have made this year’s Secret Postcard Auction one of our most successful fundraising events yet — helping us continue our mission to create lifelong journeys with art and keep creativity thriving in Bristol and the South West.

The Big Reveal 

You can now find out which artist created each artwork. Head over to our Secret Postcard Auction 2025 page and click on the Big Reveal link. 

 

The Postcards were on display in the Kenny Gallery. Credit Kay Bricknell

Kenny Gallery display

To mark the 10th Anniversary of the Secret Postcard Auction, we were delighted to host a special free-to-access exhibition in the Kenny Gallery at the RWA Bristol.

For nine days, visitors were invited to view the hundreds of postcard-sized artworks on display — each one donated by a talented artist, from well-known names to emerging creatives. Visitors enjoyed the exhibition, taking part in the fun of guessing which artist might be behind each anonymous artwork

After Hours attendees enjoying a live portrait sessions. Credit Kay Bricknell

After Hours celebration

As the Secret Postcard Auction drew to a close, we opened the doors of the RWA Bristol for a special After Hours event — an evening filled with creativity, music, and community spirit.

Guests enjoyed a live jazz band, portrait sessions, and hands-on craft workshops, as the galleries buzzed with excitement and anticipation for the final auction bids at 10:00pm.

The atmosphere perfectly captured what makes the RWA Secret Postcard Auction so special — a celebration of art, artists, and the people who make it all possible.

Why we host a Secret Postcard Auction

The RWA is a charity. We are proud of the impact we have every day.  We know that everyone’s journey with art is unique. It may become a profession, be a lifelong passion, or serve as a vital source of well-being and learning.

Through our acclaimed exhibitions, inspiring events, classes and workshops, we open the door to starting that journey – and help it flourish. You can read more about how we are creating lifelong journeys with art here

We must raise over £1 million annually to sustain our work, maintain our Grade II* listed building, programme world-class exhibitions, and invest in artists.  

As an independent charity without regular public funding, we depend on the generosity of our supporters and ticket sales to keep our bold exhibitions and community projects thriving across the Southwest. 

Thank you for supporting the RWA - we could not do this without you