HUNDREDS of postcards designed by different artists will go on display in Basingstoke this summer as part of a secret art project.

The event is being organised to raise money for a breastfeeding drop-in service in Basingstoke and will launch on July 19 at Desk Lodge in Basing View.

Each postcard will cost just £20, offering members of the public the chance to buy affordable, original art, with the possibility of it being created by a high profile artist.

Lindsey Lawman, fundraising coordinator for the Basingstoke branch of National Childbirth Trust (NCT), who is organising the event, said: “All the artwork is signed on the back rather than the front and the artists who designed them won’t be revealed until they have been purchased.”

It is hoped that more than 200 postcards will be exhibited, with artists coming from all over the world.

An exhibition will run from July 23 to August 3 in the Discovery Centre, the Willis Museum, That Gallery and Proteus Creation Space.

Lindsey added: “We hope people will want to go and see it all so we’re creating a flyer with a map and something for children to design their own postcard. There will be artists coming to the venues doing paintings and craft workshops, so it will be really interactive.”

Tickets are now on sale for the launch night at the co-working space, Desklodge when there will be live music, a charity auction and art demonstrations.

Tickets cost £10, with early bird tickets at £5, which includes canapés and a drink, and the first 20 to arrive on the night will receive a Secret Art Basingstoke goody bag.

Money raised from the event will benefit the Brookvale breastfeeding counselling drop-in service (B.A.B.I.E.S - Babies and Breastfeeding; Information, Encouragement, Support.)

The service supports mothers with breastfeeding, and is run by professionally trained breastfeeding counsellors.

Lindsey is still looking for artists to be involved with the event, and is also hoping local businesses will step forward to offer sponsorship. The Topiary in Old Basing has announced it will sponsor the People’s Choice award, given to the postcard voted as the favourite by the public.

Those interested in sponsoring or designing a postcard should email secretartbasingstoke@gmail.com or go to secretartbasingstoke.com.