Five years and thousands of dollars later, the Coalition for the Protection of Children needs no convincing that its annual `art for the heart' auction is an invaluable fund-raiser for its work, so without hesitation it has plunged into organising another of these popular events for March 9.

"Last year we netted $70,000 and moved $250,000-worth of fine art," director of the Coalition, Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper, says.

"Everyone walked away with pieces of art, which they purchased at well below the retail value because we started the bidding at the wholesale price. It was excellent."

Being auctioned are graphics by Salvadore Dali, Andy Warhol, Rich Lichtenstein and Pablo Picasso, most of which are signed, numbered and authenticated.

"In order to provide some art that would be more affordable for the average person we have collected a few pieces from each artist that, although numbered and authenticated, are not signed," Mrs. Cooper says.

"There are, for example, a couple of Warhols and several Small Dali's that fall into that category, and the bidding on those will start as low as $300. "At the higher end of the scale we have a couple of Lichtensteins that will open at $15,000, a Picasso opening at $10,000 and a Warhol opening at $12,000.

"The remainder of the 25 pieces fall somewhere in between." The art, which will be displayed during a gala dinner at La Coquille preceding the silent and live auction, was accumulated through a dealer who will be on hand to answer questions from prospective purchasers.

Funds raised will go towards expansion of the Coalition's mediation services to include family mediation and mediation for couples, aspects which are growing quickly and need funding support.

"The financial stress that we face in this community at the moment has certainly had an impact on families, and we are seeing more referrals which involve children who have been affected by family stress, and that shows it itself in divorce and family violence," Mrs. Cooper says.

"Girl on girl violence, in my opinion, is directly related to the stress level in this community.

"These are the sorts of things we deal with at the Coalition. We voluntarily treat the children we are involved with, and we also treat the whole family. It is not helpful to just treat the children."

While acknowledging that there other therapeutic services available in the community, the director says that many of the Coalition's clients cannot afford to pay for them, so fund-raisers such as the art auction are important.

"You have to have a safety net for those who do not have the financial resources, and that's us, basically," Mrs. Cooper says. Tickets for the gala dinner and auction are $150 per person, and can be obtained from the Coalition office or Kangaroo Pouch on Burnaby Street. Dress is black tie optional. For further information ( 295-1150.

Prior to March 9, the public will have a chance to see the art displayed in the Bacardi building from March 6 through 8 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission.

Further information on the Coalition for the Protection of Children and the artwork to be sold is available at www.coalition.bm