For the first time ever, the public will be able to enjoy the exhibition from the comfort of their own homes as they take a turn around the virtual gallery space. And this year, in a new twist, 50 of the 150 artworks up for auction have been donated by young emerging artists as part of an additional youth competition judged by Edinburgh College of Art’s head of art, Dr Linda O’Keeffe.

From collages to oil paintings, photographs to prints, this varied collection of postcard-sized artworks have been brought together under the theme ‘Untold’, and includes works by renowned artists Stephanie Rew, Graeme Wilcox, Jacqueline Watt and Stephen Mangan.

The theme ‘Untold’ was chosen to reflect on the untold stories and potential of young people, particularly those affected by homelessness.

Kate Polson, Rock Trust CEO, explained: “The stories that are told about young people at risk of homelessness don’t always paint the full picture. The young people we support are movers, thinkers, musicians, artists and much more. Through including the work of young emerging artists alongside more established artists, this exhibition and auction aims to show the immense talent, skill, ambition and potential of all young people.”

Linda O’Keeffe said: “It has been an honour to look at the works submitted for the Rock Trust Postcard exhibition. The works submitted highlight the incredibly diverse ways in which artists respond to a theme. But being part of this project, as a reviewer, has given me the opportunity to see what young artists are exploring, how they are addressing ideas about gender, identity, struggle in all its forms, new forms of material expression, the politics of expression, and even humour.”

The pandemic has hit young people particularly hard, and Rock Trust has seen a significant rise in the number of young people reaching out for help in recent months. Many have been struggling with relationships in the home because of the lockdown or have found their accommodation at risk because they are sofa-surfing or don’t have formal tenancies and are not protected by the eviction band. In addition, young people are more likely to lack job security and work in the most heavily impacted sectors such as hospitality and entertainment.

Since March, Rock Trust has continued to provide all its services and even increased support in some areas such as health & well-being. At the same time, the charity has seen its funding shrink as a result of having to cancel fundraising activities and events.

100% of the proceeds from this year’s auction will fund its work helping young people avoid and move on from homelessness this winter.

The virtual exhibition and auction will be live from 8:00pm November 19 and will remain open for 2 weeks.

For more visit www.rocktrust.org/untold