Art of Returning Art Auction: A Community-Led Fundraiser for Jamaica
December 13th, 2025. | De Utrechter, Utrecht
Art as a response.
Community as strength.
Supporting hurricane relief through art, urgency, and collective care
Art of Returning Art Auction was a community-led fundraiser organised by visual artist and Ackee Seed Foundation founder Karla King, held in December 2025 at De Utrechter. The event brought together art, conversation, and collective care in response to the impact of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.
The fundraiser featured donated works from Karla King’s own artistic practice, with proceeds directed toward supporting relief and recovery efforts in Jamaica. With the generous support of De Utrechter, who offered the space in solidarity, the evening took shape as an intimate gathering rooted in intention rather than scale.
The Outcome
Through a combination of artwork sales, ticket contributions, and donations, the fundraiser raised a total of €4,450.
These funds are being directed toward:
Immediate hurricane relief efforts
Ongoing assessment of needs on the ground
Supporting community-led recovery initiatives in Jamaica
A detailed breakdown of the funds raised and their allocation can be found in our transparency report.
The Story Behind the Fundraiser
Born and raised in Jamaica, Karla King created Art of Returning out of care for her community and country. One of the foundation’s earliest points of connection is Daniel Town Primary School in Trelawny, which King formerly attended and where early conversations around repair and support are ongoing following hurricane damage.
While this connection helped ground the fundraiser, the intention extended beyond a single institution. The art auction was formed as a way to respond thoughtfully, using art to raise awareness, mobilise support, and begin longer-term conversations around community-led recovery in Jamaica.
At this stage, funds raised are being held with care as the Ackee Seed Foundation continues to formalise its structure and partnerships, ensuring that support can be directed responsibly and transparently.
The Evening at De Utrechter
The fundraiser brought together guests from across the community, supported by volunteers and members of the foundation’s board who helped shape the evening behind the scenes.
The auction was led by Avital Meri-Karp, whose charm, clarity, and long-standing engagement with environmental, social impact, and humanitarian causes brought a grounded and generous energy to the space.
Despite limited notice and the demands of the season, people showed up. Attendees spent time with the artwork, shared conversations, and expressed genuine interest in Jamaica, its people, and the role art can play in moments of collective response.
What stood out most was the sense of camaraderie. An atmosphere shaped by presence, care, and mutual support.
A Moment of Giving Back
As a thank-you to those who attended and supported the fundraiser, one ticket holder was selected through a raffle to receive an original artwork.
Congratulations to Dana Pintilie in Romania, the recipient of Becoming (2024), an original digital fine art painting by Karla King, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and the original poem.
This gesture was offered in appreciation of the trust and support shown by the community, and similar moments of giving back will continue as part of future initiatives.
What This Means Next
Art of Returning marks an important stepping stone for the Ackee Seed Foundation. Moving forward, we aim to establish this as an annual, art-led fundraiser, using creative practice as a sustainable way to support long-term recovery and regenerative initiatives in Jamaica.
The artist has also pledged that select works from future collections will continue to contribute a percentage toward the foundation’s efforts. In addition, Karla King is currently developing a dedicated body of work titled ‘Tek Mi Home’, which further explores themes of return, memory, and belonging.
Art of Returning reminds us that meaningful impact can begin with urgency, but it is sustained through intention, collaboration, and trust.
