The Liguanea Lodge will next Thursday stage the 25th edition of its popular Art Auction at the Talk of the Town, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, St Andrew.

Billed as ‘Wine, Cheese and Art’ , organisers have described the event as “a most perfect combination.

“What started out as a one-off fund-raiser is now a quarter of a century old and has definitely mellowed with age,” the Liguanea Lodge said in a statement. “It has been 25 non-stop years of staging since the Liguanea Lodge first held its benefit Art Auction combined with a Wine and Cheese Party at King’s House. To mark the occasion, we are pulling out all the stops to make this year’s event befitting of its silver anniversary.”

Under the theme ‘Honouring Our Artists, Past and Present’, the event is seen as one of the premier shows of its kind on the fine arts calendar. Organisers have this year limited the collection on offer to a mere 75 pieces, comprising works by some of Jamaica’s best known artists.

The Liguanea Lodge is this year paying homage to the late Cecil Cooper who participated as an artist for all past 24 years. His work has contributed significantly in allowing the organisation to broaden and continue its outreach programme of education provided at the secondary and tertiary levels.According to the organisation, “the proceeds from these events have allowed the Lodge to provide a number of scholarships and bursary. Currently, the major scholarship is named in honour of the late Errol C Alberga Snr and is awarded annually at Kingston College where he was a former student and bursar. The Lodge is very proud of its record of outreach support that has seen a number of high school awardees, further supported through to graduation from university.”

To mark the 25th staging, this year’s collection will include works from deceased masters such as Barrington Watson, Cecil Cooper, Albert Huie, Carl Abrahams, Ralph Campbell, Roy Reid, and Ken “Abendana” Spencer. These will be augmented by the exceptional and highly sought after creativity and dexterity of George Rodney, Alexander Cooper, Stafford Schliefler, Owen Beckford, Patrick Mazola, Michael Flynn-Elliot, Richard Hall, Webster Campbell, Leopold Barnes, Ray Jackson, Peter Peart, Lennox Coke, and others of respected fine art eminence.

The ticket price remains at $2,000, which organisers say is one way of giving back to those who have supported the event over the years.

Added to an affordable entry fee are gate and spot prizes made possible through the support of some preferred partners.

The official sponsors of this year’s event are Fly Jamaica Airways, Select Brands through their Nottage Hill range of wines, and KOOL97 FM.