# Banksy’s Game Changer sells for £16.7 million on anniversary of first UK lockdown

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/03/24/banksys-game-changer-sells-for-16-7m-on-anniversary-of-first-uk-lockdown/
- Published: 2021-03-24T08:10:26+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Banksy’s _Game Changer _sold at auction for £16,758,000 yesterday, on the National
Day of Reflection marking the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown.**

 

The artwork sold at Christie’s for £14.4m, rising to the final total with fees: 
a new worldwide auction record for the artist. The proceeds from its sale of the
artwork are going to NHS-related health organisations and charities across the UK.
Christie’s has said it will also donate a significant portion of the Buyer’s Premium
to these causes.

## Advertisement

 

_Game Changer_, which is hand-painted, shows a young boy playing with a selection
of superhero dolls. In the painting, Batman and Spiderman lie discarded in a bin
while the child clutches a masked nurse dressed in the international uniform of 
the Red Cross. When first unveiled, the picture was accompanied by a note: ‘Thanks
for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only
black and white.’

 

> We’re proud to announce that through [@charity_shc](https://twitter.com/charity_shc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw),
> proceeds from the auction of Banksy’s Game Changer will be used to fund wellbeing
> projects for staff and patients at [@UHSFT](https://twitter.com/UHSFT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> and distributed to a wider community of healthcare providers both within the [@NHSuk](https://twitter.com/NHSuk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)&
> charitable sectors. [pic.twitter.com/fWDx1S8pxQ](https://t.co/fWDx1S8pxQ)
> — Southampton Hospitals Charity (@charity_shc) [March 23, 2021](https://twitter.com/charity_shc/status/1374364940920819717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

It [first appeared on 6 May 2020](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/05/15/banksy-creates-artwork-to-support-nhs-charities/),
during the first wave of the global Covid-19 pandemic, in University Hospital Southampton,
with the intention always being to sell it. Through Southampton Hospitals Charity,
proceeds from the sale will be used to fund wellbeing projects for staff and patients,
and distributed to a wider community of healthcare providers both within the NHS
and charitable sectors. A reproduction will remain on view for future patients, 
visitors and staff at the hospital.

 

Katharine Arnold, Co-Head, Post-War and Contemporary Art, Europe, Christie’s said:

> “It has been a great privilege to work on the sale of _Game Changer_. On a day
> of national reflection, marking one year since the first lockdown in Britain and
> with so many lives lost around the world, it feels very meaningful to have raised
> £16,758,000. Banksy is an extraordinary artist who is a constant barometer of 
> nationwide sentiment. With the perfect image of a little boy playing with his 
> superhero doll; a nurse sporting the international Red Cross, he perfectly captured
> the essence of this moment in time.”

David French, Interim Chief Executive Officer at University Hospital Southampton
added:

> “This incredible gift will be invaluable in helping us to focus on promoting and
> protecting the welfare of our staff as they heal and recover from the last year.
> As a charitable gift it ensures our staff have a say in how money is spent to 
> benefit them, our patients and our community and is a fantastic way to thank and
> reward them for the sacrifices they’ve made.
> “The Trust is part of a much wider community of healthcare providers both within
> the NHS and charitable sectors and it’s required a collective effort to manage
> and support the most vulnerable and unwell within our community over the last 
> year.  The lessons we’ve learnt throughout the pandemic will no doubt see a fundamental
> shift to more collaborative ways of working into the future and we’re delighted
> that proceeds from the auction of _Game Changer_ will also go to benefit the work
> of our wider partners and help us all to deliver a more integrated and improved
> care system for patients.”

 

Main image: Photo by [Sora Shimazaki](https://www.pexels.com/@sora-shimazaki?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels)
from [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/small-judge-gavel-placed-on-table-near-folders-5668473/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels)