FLORENCE ITALY OR BUST!

What is the Florence Biennale? • Sponsorship Opportunities • Updates: Italy or Bust • Other ways to help

I have been invited to attend the Biennale Internazionale dell'Arte Contemporanea di Firenze. The Florence Biennale is an international art show which is an official partner of the United Nations. It is organized by the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic with the official endorsement of the Ministry of Culture, the Region of Tuscany & the City of Florence. It is held every 2 years. I am told it is quite an honor to be selected & I have been informed by a fellow artist who participated in 2007, that it is something I really must do. That said...

Sponsorship: I am looking for sponsors to help me realize dream and accept this honor. I estimate total costs will be 8000.  The nonrefundable application fee is 2700 Euro, which as of June 8 was approximately $3756 US.  I also need plane fare, accommodations, and to ship my art either by taking it with me on the plane, or getting it there otherwise.  I need to accrue the nonrefundable application fee by July 14, 2009. 

The Florence Biennial Committee has a sponsorship package, which will list my sponsors on their sponsorship page etc. The artist who participated in 2007 says the brochures, which will also list my sponsors, are really quite nice. If you are interested in sponsoring me, I will need your name, title and complete mailing address to give to the Biennale Committee so they can mail you the materials directly.  They will allow up to four sponsors to cover the "artist's share," the 2700 Euro entrance fee.  The committee will refund me payments I have made for the artist's share if sponsors come forward after I have paid the fee, which I could then use toward other expenses-therefore it is not too late to sponsor me even after I have paid. 

In addition to the Florence Biennial's Sponsorship Page, which I have no control over, I am more than willing to list my sponsors here on this website, with links, logos etc.  And I will send you a certificate that you can use to document your contribution - if you are a business, this sponsorship is deductible as advertising. Individuals can be sponsors too.    I can have more than one sponsor.  Please contact me if you wish to sponsor my application and trip to Florence as soon as possible.

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Updates: Italy or Bust November 20, 2009: This will probably be the last update until I get back from Italy.  I did finally get a swine flu shot this week.  I should have some immunity before I travel although full immunity does take what 6 weeks?  If you are wondering how, I did some online research - check with your local community health organization for links; in Maricopa County Arizona the folks to contact were Mollen Immunization Clinics; since I was not in an at risk population if I had gone to any of the cattle call clinics I would have had to wait in line for hours and may not have even received a shot.  By contacting Mollen I was able to schedule an appointment for a shot and guarantee that when I went there I would receive it.  I did have to wait for them to tell me when I could come in and I did have to drive some distance to receive the shot but I got it. 

Still haven't got a cell phone, and I am debating whether or not I will bother.  When I have traveled in the past I got along with out one and I think I can do so now.  I may check in at an internet cafe one day if I have the time, but I dunno, maybe I will just be incommunicado the whole time.  Anyway, according to a friend, Chris, who lives in Italy, Florence is a tourist town and if I really need to I can probably pick up an inexpensive cell phone there. I know if I debate this matter much longer I will have no choice so indecision may make the decision for me.  I do not want to spend the money on something I may not need or use.

I did my last art show last night and received a $5 donation in the Italy or Bust bucket.  I have continued to receive small donations at all my art shows this season.  Hey, every little bit helps.  My last big Italy or Bust push went out with the annual holiday letter.  As a result of that I have received 2 more $100 donations so far, bringing my total to around $2000.  For all who have contributed and for those who will contribute, please know I am exceedingly grateful for your support of my art.  Art is hard; the pursuit of art is madness, there are a lot of easier ways to make a living, but it is the constant passion of my life and I have to do it.  My patrons remind me that I am doing something that has value even if it is not the most sensible of activities.  When I return from Italy I will post a new page, the Florence Biennial Experience, hopefully with a lot of pictures etc. detailing my adventures at the Florence Biennial.  - Yours in Art - Jake

November 8, 2009 Update:  First Shipping-I covered this item in detail in my blog.  EPS wanted nearly $3,000 to ship the art and I decided against it.  After a lot of researching etc.  I decided I would take the art off the stretchers and fly with it-taking it off the stretcher bars means that it will fit in luggage that does not incur over-sized baggage fees.  In theory, since the art is for an exhibition and not for an art sale, I should not incur customs fees - other artists have traveled with their art and say this method works.  As for asking the Italian consulate about it, they were not helpful  therefore I am winging it. 

I purchased tickets in October, twice; for whatever reason my first set of reservations did not go through and I had to do it all over again - needless to say the first flight and fare was not reproducible, but I think my current plans should work out OK.  Also I have reservations at Hotel Arizona in Florence; the hotel name is an amusing coincidence.  I decided trip insurance was a good idea. 

I have received my seasonal flu shot, but getting a swine flu shot is not possible yet as they are still vaccinating "at risk" populations; as much as I would like to get the swine flu vaccine, I probably will not be able to obtain one before the trip. 

I have been researching communications options in Italy this week. I'll either need to upgrade my current cell and service OR buy an inexpensive GSM compatible phone with a rechargeable SIM card.

I also edited and updated my brochure then had 1000 copies made to take with me to the Biennial. It's less than a month a way now.  I am in anticipation mode now. 

9/7/09 Update:  I have completed two pieces to accompany Arboreal Flyer to the Biennale, they are Primary Colors and Let Sleeping Dragons Lie.  I have also paid the final artist's share payment to the Biennale Committee, but it is not too late for sponsors to come forward-I could easily use the money I have paid the Biennale to cover other expenses as this point.  What remains is shipping the art and setting up my travel plans and hotel room.  The Biennale Shipper Eurosped/Puntosystems wants me to ship the art in a crate instead of say a U-Haul mirror boxes.  My first estimate on the cost of such a crate: $273.50.  Naturally a crate is likely to weigh a lot more as well.  I am really hoping shipping does not wind up costing more than the art being shipped at which point I will have to re-evaluate the shipping scenario. 

7/27/09 Update: Received Part II of the technical regulations from the Biennale.  There is another unanticipated expense. Apparently Italian Shipping Regulations require a deposit on imported artwork, even if it is for exhibition only, to cover their 20% VAT (Sales Tax).  As long as the artwork returns to the USA unsold then I will get the VAT back as a refund, however I still have to float the VAT from the time I pay for the shipment until the artwork is returned and they refund it to me.  Of course all shipping & warehousing costs have to be paid up front. 

7/24/09 Update: I have completed the Biennale application and express mailed it to Firenze.  They needed things like pictures of me for my badge, hard copy of the painting for the brochure, hard copy of my bio, proof that I have paid for my artist's share, etc.  Another thing, I also had to file for a new passport as my old one was in my old name - I legally changed my name to Jake this year; since my passport and plane tickets have to match I forked over another $150 to the Department of State.  I am still awaiting the paperless society as from my viewpoint, dead trees still make the world go round.  I don't love paperwork, but at least I am good at it.  I am going to Florence in December, but I still need help covering my expenses.  Please continue to contribute to my cause. 

7/22/09 Update:  I have my first Sponsor!  Yes!  I am so happy! I am going to get the completed application in the mail and overnight it to the committee this week - I just need some passport photos and to print a picture or burn a CD of Arboreal Flyer.  I have selected Arboreal Flyer to be my representative piece for the brochure, a choice predicated on several factors-all of them practical, and/or relating to the rules of the exhibition.

7/13/09 Update:  I charged the first payment to the Biennale of 1200 Euro on a credit card.  Fundraising is going slow, but every little bit helps.  So far I have not been successful in my bid to obtain a sponsor.  I am going no matter what.  I need to complete the application etc by the end of the month.  The other payment of 1500 Euro is due in September, so there still is time for someone to become a sponsor. - Jake

 6/25/09 Update:  You all missed a heck of a fundraiser: great food, ample beverage, pleasant company and spectacular fire-dancers.  I have not managed to obtain a sponsor yet and fundraising is very slow going.  If nothing else I will fund this trip on credit - its the only way I can pay for it at the moment.  Apparently sponsors can pay for my "artists share," the 2700 Euro application fee, directly to the Biennale, after the due date, and the Biennale will refund the payment I made, therefore it is still possible for sponsors to come forward after I pay, therefore I am not giving up.  - Jake  

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Contributing Patrons: Of course I am willing to take donations of a lesser amount. You may use the PayPal buttons below, or for alternate contact see my email address, mailing address & phone number below.  I will list my Contributing Patrons on my website as well. 

Jake Italy or Bust
Donation $20

Jake Italy or Bust
Donation $50

Jake Italy or Bust
Donation $100

 

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