Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Water world


When we put Two Rooms fund raising together with Te Manawa’s audacious Venice Biennale project, we got it right. A note from Jenny Todd at Two Rooms confirms that they are fully behind Te Manawa’s efforts to secure funding for the Brett Graham and Rachael Rakena installation. Remember that Creative New Zealand has decided not to fund any Venice art projects, apart from the Trip of a Life Time Tour. We’re told Te Manawa has “a beautiful venue already organised and secured, and 75% sponsored by an Italian Fashion house Byblos. The venue is on the canal facing the Guidecca (Zattere) – one stop from St Mark’s.” Through the Curator Alice Hutchinson and two Italian curators, Jenny tells us, the Graham/ Rakena installation was “proposed for the Venice Biennale and accepted by Robert Storr as a Collateral Event. The Collateral events are side events to the participating countries and last time this program included the Northern Ireland, Scottish and Welsh Pavilions as well as curated shows from China, India and others.” On Thursday 15 February Two Rooms are holding an event from 5.30 to 7.00 pm to announce the project to potential art sponsors and patrons in Auckland and to push on with raising the rest of the funding.
Images: The venue secured for the Brett Graham and Rachael Rakena installation