Ben Quilty Raises Millions for Afghan Refugees Through UNHCR

Ben Quilty, an Australian artist, has successfully generated over AUD 4.6 million (USD 3.4 million) for UNHCR to aid the Afghan population. In 2011, Quilty served as Australia's official war artist in Afghanistan, where he was based in Kabul, Kandahar, Tarin Kot, and Al Minhad Air Base, which heightened his awareness of the ongoing crisis. The initiative, titled For Afghanistan, focuses on delivering vital supplies and assistance. Philanthropists Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, co-founders of Atlassian, committed AUD 1 million contingent on matching funds, while Karen Wilson contributed an additional AUD 1 million, escalating the campaign from AUD 30,000 to millions. Filmmaker Angus McDonald raised AUD 62,000 through auctions, and novelist Richard Flanagan auctioned a special edition of his Booker Prize-winning book. Born in Sydney in 1973, Quilty is celebrated for his expressionist artwork.