Art sale to honour the legacy of Margaret Adams and support Mayo Hospice

Custom House Studios and Gallery is inviting the people of Westport and beyond to come together for a special Anonymous Art Sale in memory of Margaret Adams, former Chairperson of Custom House Studios and a passionate advocate for the arts and her community.

The fundraiser will take place at Custom House Studios and Gallery, The Quay, Westport, on Thursday, October 22, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with all proceeds going to Mayo Hospice, in recognition of the exceptional care and support Margaret and her family received.

Margaret was the first Chairperson of Custom House Studios, established in 2002, and remained in the role for 23 years until her passing in February 2025. During that time, she played a central role in helping to realise the vision of transforming the historic Custom House at Westport Quay into a home for artists and a place where creativity could be shared with the wider community.

Margaret also devoted many years to public life, serving as a Westport Town Councillor and Mayo County Councillor. Her commitment to the betterment of Westport and its surrounding communities, together with her belief in the importance of the arts, has left a lasting legacy.

The Anonymous Art Sale will bring that spirit of creativity and community together once again. Everyone is invited to participate. You do not need to be a professional artist or a member of Custom House Studios.

Custom House Studios will provide participants with a primed board, free of charge, which can be collected from the gallery. Contributors can create an original artwork directly on the board or contribute a separate piece of unframed work. There is one important rule: the artist's identity must remain anonymous. Artists should not sign the front of their work. Completed artworks must be returned to Custom House Studios by 4 p.m. on Monday, October 19.

On the night of the sale, every artwork will be priced at €50. Visitors will choose their artwork without knowing who created it. Once purchased, the identity of the artist is revealed, and the artwork can be taken home. All proceeds from the sale will go to Mayo Hospice, helping support specialist hospice care for families throughout Mayo.

Custom House Studios Plus Gallery welcomes artists, makers, families, friends and the wider community to take part in this special evening of art, community and remembrance.

Further information is available here.