“I think it’s important to present things to people that maybe they haven’t seen or heard before,” says Lucas Stenning, creative director of LondonFuse, an online cultural community dedicated to the elevation of the arts in the city.

On Saturday LondonFuse will host a fundraiser at APK Live where it plans to do just that, exposing the city to new artwork and music.

“For this show we have two brand new bands that have never seen the light of day: Idol Hands and Nightler,” Stenning says, as well as original works of art by local talent for sale through silent auction.

“LondonFuse is a nonprofit platform,” he says, “And we’re now trying to get to a place where it is sustainable and one of those ways is through fundraising.”

All proceeds from the event will go toward the costs of operating the site, covering things like server expenses and workspace.

For Saturday’s event LondonFuse put a call out into the community asking artists of all skill levels to submit pieces 12 inches by 12 inches in size, mimicking the dimensions of an LP cover.

“I thought it would be appropriate to do this show because it’s fusing together arts and music and all the aspects that (the site) covers,” says Bonnie Goodden, a volunteer with LondonFuse and part of the team behind the event.

“We actually have some fairly prolific artists contributing,” Stenning says, citing submissions by local artists Jason McLean, Peter Thompson, Paul Walde, James Kirkpatrick and Bill Young.

“It’s a good show of artists of all ranges,” Goodden adds.

Submissions are still being accepted for Saturday’s event, just email submissions@londonfuse.ca if you’d like to contribute.  

“I think London has a fantastic art community,” Stenning says. “But some people are afraid to get involved. There is a lot amazing talent in the city and we wanted to provide a platform where those artists, who are maybe afraid to show their work, could get involved.”

“Making an open call is important to us,” Goodden says. “All ages and all disciplines – as long as it’s LP dimensions, it could be crocheted!”

The LondonFuse fundraiser starts at 8 p.m. with performances by three local bands. Cover is $5.