The exhibition has been Cranleigh Public School’s major fundraiser for the past six years, and the organisers aim to rise more than $25,000 for the school to buy specialist, custom-made gymnasium and playground equipment.

Cranleigh provides educational programs for children with developmental delays, autism, moderate to severe intellectual or multiple disabilities in the age range 3-12 years.  Communication, independence skills and information and communication technologies are taught and many of the children use assistive technologies to access the curriculum to learn.

More than 150 artists are participating, with more than 700 works on display. Participating artists have also been offered the opportunity to come into the school throughout the year to work with the Cranleigh students to produce student art on sale across the weekend.

The 2012 Featured Guest Artist is “City News” 2011 Artist of the Year, sculptor Michael Le Grand.

A live auction of Bryce Courtenay’s complete signed works (all 21 novels, many first editions) will be held at noon, Sunday October 21 as well as the Peter Blackshaw Celebrity Artist Live Auction, featuring works by  Maxine Price, An-Pan, Paul Kowalski, Ching Teoh, Annette Barker, Isla Patterson, Judi Power Thomson and Lisa Wang.

Cranleigh Capital Chemist Art Show, at Cranleigh School, Starke St, Holt, from October 19 to 21, Opening Night officiated by Director of National Portrait Gallery,  Louise Doyle, 7-9pm,  October  19.