Cape Town’s RePAWposed Art Exhibition has raised a record R70,200 for TEARS, giving forgotten artworks and rescue animals a second chance.
Cape Town, South Africa (24 August 2026) – Remember those forgotten paintings that were given a second chance at becoming something beautiful? Well, they have done something rather wonderful.
The annual RePAWposed TEARS Art Exhibition and Auction has raised a record R70,200 for TEARS Animal Rescue, turning unwanted artworks, creative talent and a few very enthusiastic rescue dogs into a fundraising success story for animals in need.
Hosted by Noordhoek Art Point Gallery in July, the annual event brought together local artists, animal lovers, collectors and members of the community, all united by a wonderfully simple idea: sometimes, all something needs is a second chance.
The concept behind RePAWposed is as beautiful as the result. Pre-loved and forgotten paintings are sourced from TEARS charity shops before being handed over to artists and members of the public, who transform them into something entirely new.
The paintings that may once have been overlooked on a charity shop shelf are given a new life on a gallery wall, while the money raised from their sale helps give animals at TEARS the care and support they need while waiting for homes of their own.
And then, of course, there were the rescue dogs.
Seven very good dogs, including Patra, Bullet, Demi, Evalyn, Lady Freckleton, Lady Wigglebutt and Bear, were given the opportunity to put their own artistic stamp on the exhibition. With paint-covered paws and plenty of supervision from artist and Noordhoek Art Point Gallery owner Aimee Kruger, the canine artists created colourful abstract works that were auctioned alongside the human-made pieces.
The result was a record-breaking fundraiser.
This year’s R70,200 represents a significant jump from the R50,500 raised in 2025, an increase of almost 39 percent. It also surpassed this year’s hope of pushing the fundraiser beyond the R60,000 mark.
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For her, the success of RePAWposed is about much more than the money raised.
“RePAWposed is about celebrating what can happen when we give something a second chance. The paintings are given a new life through the creativity of artists, the rescue dogs became artists themselves, and ultimately the funds raised give animals at TEARS another chance at a better life. That is what makes this event so special.”
It is a fitting message for a fundraiser supporting rescue animals, because second chances are at the heart of everything TEARS does.
Every year, animals arrive needing care, rehabilitation, love and a safe place to land before they can begin their next chapter. The funds raised through events like RePAWposed help make that work possible.
And perhaps that is why this particular fundraiser resonates so strongly. Nothing is really wasted. Not the forgotten painting sitting on a charity shop shelf. Not the creative idea waiting to be unleashed. Not even the very enthusiastic paw prints of a rescue dog.
Everything gets another opportunity to become something wonderful.
This year, that second chance has resulted in R70,200 for TEARS, and a whole lot of good being created along the way.
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