Strokes4Stroke is an annual art event raising funds to help prevent stroke, save lives, and enhance recovery.

In 2026, it returns in a new format — a two-week public exhibition at fortyfivedownstairs in Melbourne, combined with an online auction so supporters across Australia can view and bid on artworks from anywhere.

📍 Venue: fortyfivedownstairs, Flinders Lane, Melbourne

📅 Dates: 16–27 June 2026

🕐 Gallery Hours: Tues–Fri: 12pm–7pm | Sat: 12pm–4pm

Entry is free, and everyone is welcome.

Artists of all levels are invited to participate — from emerging and established artists to survivors of stroke and those touched by stroke.

Your donated piece will help raise vital funds while gaining exposure through a respected independant Melbourne gallery and national online platform.

You can submit your work through our Artwork Submission Form. Once approved, you’ll receive delivery instructions and key dates.

We ask that each artwork be accompanied by a high-quality image and brief artist statement.

There are no limitations on the type of artwork you can create. 

Yes, artists may nominate a reasonable reserve price during the submission process.

However, Stroke Foundation my choose a different starting bid amount.

Artworks will be available for bidding from 9:00am AEST, Tuesday 16 June.

Supporters can bid in real time from anywhere in Australia, or choose from selected “Buy Now” pieces for an immediate purchase.

Payments are made securely through our online auction platform.

As we’re a small team, we appreciate your patience — it may take a little time to carefully package and send each artwork.

Want to be the first to know when registration for bidding opens?

👉 Join the waitlist to be notified as soon as you can register to bid.

As this is a charity auction, artworks are donated in full to support Stroke Foundation’s programs.

However, each artist will be acknowledged at the exhibition, on the auction platform and across promotional channels where possible.

Proceeds from Strokes4Stroke help fund Stroke Foundation programs that:

• Educate Australians on stroke prevention and early recognition;

• Support survivors and families on their recovery journey;

• Advocate for better stroke care across Australia.

Absolutely! You can:

• Visit the exhibition in Melbourne

• Bid in the online auction from anywhere in Australia

• Spread the word about the event on social media

Please email: strokes4stroke@strokefoundation.org.au

Yes! You’ll get an email or text to let you know what you’ve won, and your email will include a link to an invoice with payment details.  

You can pay for your item by credit card or EFT through GalaBid.  There will be information in your email and on the invoice with payment details.   

You will receive an invoice from Galabid that will show you’ve paid for your Strokes4Stroke auction item. Please note, as you are purchasing an item, the receipt is not tax deductible. 

Once you’ve paid for your item, we’ll send your artwork using the details you provided when you registered for the online auction.

We know how excited you will be to receive your Strokes4Stroke artwork, so we’ll do our absolute best to get it out to you as soon as we can. 

As we’re a small team, we appreciate your patience — it may take a little time to carefully package and send each artwork.

We understand that sometimes things can happen and we would love you to receive your winning item prompty and safely. In the event that a piece of artwork does go missing or is damaged, the following coverage will be applicable:

Items valued over $500 will be sent Registered Post with extra cover for loss or damage and will require a signature required on delivery. 

Items valued between $100 and $500 will be sent via Registered Post and will require a signature on delivery.

Any item under $100 will be sent via regular post with tracking.

Thank you for your generosity. Donating your art to our online auction is very easy, simply complete our art submission form here.

One of our friendly team members will be in touch to talk through the next steps. 

Please send artwork to:

Attention: Stevie Waugh
Stroke Foundation - Strokes4Stroke
Level 7, 461 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Posting your piece of art is recommended, and we encourage using a tracking number, however we will leave that to your discretion.  

If you’d like to hand deliver to our Melbourne office, please contact the Strokes4Stroke team at strokes4stroke@strokesfoundation.org.au to chat through this further.

To ensure we have enough time upload your artwork onto the online auction site and prepare for the exhibition, we’d love to receive it by COB Friday 5 June 2026.  

We understand that sometimes art takes a little while to create, and the post can be slow, so please ensure you've left enough time for it to arrive. 

While we’d love to be able to support artists, the Strokes4Stroke online auction is a dedicated fundraiser for Stroke Foundation.  Artists submitting their work for the auction do so with the understanding that they are donating their art to help Stroke Foundation raise money to prevent stroke, save lives and enhance recovery for survivors of stroke.  

Stroke Foundation will be covering the cost of shipping artwork to the winning bidder. 

Our aim for events such as the Strokes4Stroke online fundraiser is to keep our costs as low as possible.

Your support in paying to post your artwork to us is greatly appreciated, as this means that more of your hard-earned fundraising dollars go straight back to helping people when they need it most.

Once your art has been loaded to the online auction site, we’ll send you the link to share. 

While you’ll have access to the link, your network won’t be able to bid until the auction is live on 16 June. 

Including reminders in your newsletter, on your socials, in your studio or at your market stall are all great ways to promote the auction and your generosity and support of Stroke Foundation.

Your name, any website and Instragram links you supplied and the title of your artwork will be displayed with your piece of art.  

If you’d like to read through the artist terms and conditions, you can find them here.