The Art of Christmas fundraising auction and cocktail party turns 10 this week with a celebration of art, innovation and the human body.

The Art of Christmas fundraising auction and cocktail party turns 10 this week with a celebration of art, innovation and the human body.

The event, on Thursday evening, is put on by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research.

The event organiser, Menzies Advancement Manager Teisha Archer, said interactive experiences had been added this year, as well as the traditional auction of beautiful Tasmanian artworks donated by acclaimed Tasmanian artists.

"One of our new experiences will be the opportunity to have yourself scanned and then reproduced in 3D printing by 3D Tasmania. Guests will be able to bid for the opportunity to have their heart scanned and then, through 3D printing, your heart can be reproduced so that you can hold it in your hand. It's not every day you get to see yourself immortalised like that," Ms Archer said.

Life drawing and the creation of limited edition digital prints will take place at the event. One of the auction items will be a necklace crafted by Emma Bugg which contains crushed slate from the original Menzies building that stood on the site of the University of Tasmania's new state-of-the-art Medical Science Precinct.

As the evening unfolds DJ Dameza will integrate music with numerical data to project multi-coloured images.

As well as 22 beautiful artworks, guests will be able to bid for:

• A photo of your favourite Tasmanian landscape from photographer Damien Peck.
• Dinner with Premier Will Hodgman and Mrs Nicki Hodgman for six guests at Parliament House
• Jewellery and a voucher from Rebecca Roth Designs
• A glassblowing masterclass with James Dodson including one night's accommodation at the Red Feather Inn

"This is one of the ways we can show our pride in the work that we do here while also celebrating Christmas with all of our wonderful donors and supporters from the Tasmanian community," Ms Archer said. "Once again the artists have been so generous."

Both Dave Noonan from Heart FM (MC) and Hank Petrusma (auctioneer) are donating their time, and all proceeds will go to medical research at Menzies.

The artists supporting the event are:  Bert Aperloo, Lucy Bleach, Nicholas Blowers, Barbara Cauvin, James Dodson, Chris Downes, Jane Giblin, Nathan Grey, John Ingleton, Barbie Kjar, Richard Klekociuk,  Eloise Lark Cook, Nigel Lazenby, Carol Maney, Cathy McAuliffe, Christine Needham, Damien Peck, Rose Pidd, Troy Ruffels, Michael Weitnauer and Katy Woodroffe.

Art of Christmas is supported by Clemenger Tasmania, Mercury Walch, Staples, Henry Jones Art Hotel, Fullers Bookshop, Andrew Jones Travel, Arcom Group, Rebecca Roth, Pickled Pear, Jessica Jean Chocolates and Cool Wine.

The Art of Christmas will be held from 6.45pm on Thursday December 4 in the Medical Science Precinct, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart.

Tickets are selling fast: book go to www.menzies.utas.edu.au/artofchristmas or call
6226-7700. Tickets are $50 and all proceeds go to medical research at Menzies.

For more information/to arrange interviews:
Miranda Harman
Marketing and Communications Manager
Menzies Institute for Medical Research
University of Tasmania
Phone: 61 3 6226-7751
61 427 199 562
Email:  miranda.harman@utas.edu.au

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