WATER & ARTS PROJECT - VENICE
Its 12 o'çlock and the alarm bells are ringing and fast actions are needed before its to late to protect our countries , cities and cultural Heritage against the rising sea-level and floods caused by climate change. Even nowadays climate refugees are acknowledged. With the expertise over the years of the Dutch well-known water - management we can deal with one meter higher sea-level at the end of this century. But many other countries are in need for a better water system. To catch the attention of this danger we are working to an unique water&arts project about ART in collaboration with contruction companies and water - managements. With the focus to the many floods and the old Construction of the MOSE Dam in Venice. We are looking for partnerships and sponsoring.
Ellen: ' At my first visit to Venice in 2018, taking a boat trip, I noticed near to the central station lines on the wall with marks how high the waters could rise and what's going to happen without interference.The lines were kept in my subconscious and I took some photo’s of sea-weeds near by the central station. The lines of threat of sinking and the very dark green sea-weeds along the quay impressed me. In Fall that year I started with my pastel-paintings series 'The waters of Venice'. In 2019 there was a huge tide in the city and I received via social media many remarks that my artworks responding to the high water level in Venice. And this became an eye-opener and the start of the Water&Arts project focus Venice. I managed to catch the attention of UNESCO in Paris, Yaël Thomas of the cultural sector stated: 'We acknowledge the quality of your project, which gives special emphasis to environmental issues through art'. And saying that my art project is very interesting !! And even La Direction Artistique Fondation Cartier shared their opinion'.
WATER MANAGEMENT
It is well-known that the Netherlands is a country far below sea-level and over the ages it has featured a highly controlled water-management to protect our landscapes and historical cities. In Amsterdam, touristic like Venice, the water circulation is controlled and the waters in the famous canals are of a rather good quality and full of fishing birds. The Italian government has 20 years ago commissioned the building of the MOSE dam in the Venice lagoon but for many years the constructions have been capped. After years of disuse in Autumn 2019 when the flood came along the city was 'drowning'. But what will it be like towards the end of this century, a rising sea level with one or worse perhaps two meters..? A second Atlantis.....Ellen Grael was present during the International dicussion draft organized by Europan Nostra and the European Heritage Hub community to put Venice in the Heart of Culture and Climate Action launched at 28 September 2023.
European Heritage Hub have put Venice in the Heart of Climate and Culture actions
On advice by Europa Nostra team for having the best results to conduct the Water& Arts project is to create a great accessibility in an inviting exhibition space in Venice. Having an open communication to introduce our skills via ART and Water- expertise. An unique project via an interdisciplinary exhibition. With the MOSE DAM in mind. Gerhard Winters and Ellen Grael are open for having collaborations and sponsorships who are interested to be part in the project. Dealing with Topics like climate change and rising Sea Level and protecting historical cities by constructing barriers. The involved parties are going to be well announced and public visible via banners, posters and other promotional tools. Interested parties:
Ellen Grael with 'The waters of Venice' series.
Gerhard Winters is senior Engineering and Geohydrology advisor Cruxbv in Amsterdam
Gerhard is having a large connection network with CKI and other construction companies like Uhrig Bau in Germany and Energy EDW.
George van der Meulen. director of Compuplan Knowledge Institute CKI -Water management: https://compuplan.nl
( senior specialist for Land and Water ) The Involvements of CKI, Compuplan Knowledge Institute of applied Geo-Informatics, are links to water management, both flood and drought risks, with international experiences.
Rogier Marius is wood designer, master carpenter and Installation artist. Maruis made a special installation during my Solo in Vrij Paleis
Paul Enkelaar is photographer and film maker: https://paulenkelaarfilms.nl
is a documentary filmmaker, cameraman and stills photographer and has 25 years of experiences working in countries around the world. Paul made a series of Photo’s in Venice when having high tide and floods.
UNESCO, World Heritage Center in Paris, the Culture Sector.
Contacts persons:
Yael Thomas, Diverstiy of Cultural Expressions, Culture Sector
Réka Viragos, Program specialist. Europe and North America Unit
Mr. Toussaint Tiendrebeogo, Head of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions Entity. https://www.unesco.org
Europa Nostra team is based in The Haque presented by Silvie Barends Malinovskà and in Venice by Carla Toffolo the programme manager. Europa Nostra has its focus, besides Venice, to other historical cities in the danger zone. Besides zoom meetings, Ellen had personal meetings with Carla during the European Cultural Heritage conference. https://www.europanostra.org
Luca Berta, director Venice Art Factory. https://www.veniceartfactory.org
For several years Grael having personal contact with Luca Berta and last September when Ellen was in Venice during the European Cultural Heritage conference talking with Luca about the exhibition space of Palazzo Loredan Institute of Science, letters and Art located close to his organization. Luca Berta is director of Venice Art Factory and gallery SPARC*.
YXIE manoir des Arts in Villeblevin near Paris in France, a cultural center in a beautiful early 19th century mansion, organized by the director Kees Wieringa.
THETIS Ing. Giovanni Zarotti engineering concerning the Mose Dam located at the Venetian Arsenal. During the E C H Summit Mr. Zarotti gave a conference about the Mose Dam and its slow down developments and constructions over the years reasons why its outmoded. https://www.thetis.it
Alexandra Mitsotaki, president and co-founder of WHF. World Human Forum. htps://worldhumanforum.earth
Erminia Sciacchitano, senior advisor Italian Ministry of Culture