Ad agencies, artists and celebrities are hoping to leave their footprint in the fifth annual Boot It Up arts fundraiser.
Part art gala and part auction, the event sees Blundstone shoes turned into works of art for the benefit of homeless and street-involved youth.
Organized by the youth outreach arts program Sketch, Blundstone Footware and shoe retailer Australian Boot Company, this year’s event will showcase agency submissions from Capital C, Cossette Communication-Marketing, Cundari SFP, Fuse Marketing, Grey Advertising, Grip Ltd., Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, Taxi, and Yield Integrated Communications and Advertising.
Twenty-seven other noteable Canadians, including NDP member of parliament Olivia Chow and singer Nelly Furtado, will also submit boot-based art. Each will be judged by members of the media.
While there are no prizes, the highest-scoring projects are auctioned live at the main fundraising event, which also includes games and a silent auction. In 2007, Capital C took best-of-show and more than $45,000 was raised.
Last year was the first time ad agencies made submissions, said Tim Stacey, president of Australian Boot Company. “We have a couple of committee members who are in the ad industry. They suggested it would be a good idea.
“Some of the agencies were really enthusiastic and asked to be included again, and we tried a few other ones this year as well. The reception we’ve had has been quite phenomenal.”
This year’s event takes place Sept. 25 in Toronto.
