60TH VENICE BIENNALE 2024 

About the event

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THE VENICE BIENNALE 

The world’s oldest and arguably its most popular and comprehensive international arts event, the Venice Biennale continues to be an inspirational experience to artists and art lovers alike. Generally speaking, Biennales are important international events, since it entails crucial, public sites for the production, distribution, and generation of public discourse around contemporary art. An art biennale is furthermore an event during which audiences can encounter various forms of art and ideas from all over the world.

The Venice Art Biennale is a contemporary visual art forum consisting of a main exhibition curated by the official Biennale curator (a new one with every Biennale), hosted at two principal sites, Giardini and Arsenale. At these two venues, most countries of the world have permanent exhibition spaces, so-called ‘pavilions’. Each country appoints curator(s) who then selects one or more artists to represent their country. The main Biennale curator sets a theme, which the individual regional curators have to respond to in their selection of work. In addition to the main pavilions, there is usually a host of fringe exhibitions in venues scattered all over Venice.

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The 60th International Art Exhibition will take place from Saturday 20 April to Sunday 24 November 2024 (pre-opening on April 17, 18 and 19). It is curated by Adriano Pedrosa who is currently the artistic director of the Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand – MASP.

 

The guided tour to the Venice Biennale is organised and led by Elfriede Dreyer. She has been involved in the art world, locally and internationally, for more than 30 years. She is an Extraordinary Professor of Art at Unisa; the Vice-President of SANAVA; the founder/manager of the CAP Institute for Contemporary Art Practice; and an active curator, professional artist and mentor.

Elfriede regularly visits the Venice Biennale and other international art fairs, and she has done guided visits to the Biennale since 2015. Her approach to the tours is to provide background information and interpretation on artworks and artists, and she facilitates an understanding of classic and contemporary culture. Read more about Elfriede.

 

Download the tour flyer.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Visiting Venice entails an encompassing experience of art, architecture, food and natural beauty.

You will experience the following:

o The best of the international contemporary art through several days of visits to the 60th Venice Biennale, the Olympic Games of Art.

o Although the Venice Biennale with its display of international contemporary art is the main attraction, you will also see Renaissance and Modernist works at Museums and Palaces. You will see the original paintings and sculpture of Italian Old Masters such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Tintoretto, Raphael and many others.

o Experience Modernism through original works of Picasso, Pollock, Magritte and others.

o You will see some of the most beautiful Renaissance architecture in the world.

o As a bonus we will visit three nearby islands where Italian lace and glass are produced.

o On the last day we will do a sunset cruise on a catamaran with aperitivo and live jazz music.

o We will stay for eight nights in three different self-catering apartments of the same lodging situated right next to the Arsenale. They are not too expensive or luxurious, but modern, clean and fully equipped.

o Venice is experienced by foot or by boat. Expect to walk quite a lot.

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED

o Accommodation in vernacular Venetian and Roman style. There are three apartments, each with a private bathroom, lounge and fully equipped kitchen. You can choose between a shared double room (with double bed or two single beds); a private room (single) (most expensive option); or a sofa bed in the lounge (all completely private and comfortable).

o All transport from and to the airport in Venice via water taxi as well as two full days water taxi tickets.

o Entry to the 59thVenice Biennale including Giardini, Arsenale and Dorsoduro, and fringe venues.

o Entry to the Gothic Doge Palace and the San Marco Basilica.

o Entry to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum with its collection of Modernist artists such as Picasso, Breton, Giacometti and others.

o Entry to the Francois Pinault Art Collection at the Punta Della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi.

o Entry to the Basilicas of San Saccariaand San Georgio.

o A day trip to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.

o A sunset cruise on a catamaran with live jazz music and aperitivo.

o Additional and optional: Shopping at Rialto Bridge and other shops, restaurants, cafés, gondola rides …

 

ITINERARY

o Saturday 27 April: Fly on 27 April to arrive on Sunday 28 April at Marco Polo airport in Venice. Try to book an Emirates flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town town that arrives at around 1.25pm. We will meet there to get the water taxi, and will wait until everyone has arrived.

o Sunday 28 April: Alilaguna(water taxi) from airport to Arsenale; settling in and scouting around. We are staying right opposite the Biennale! All the apartments are self-catering. Buy groceries at a local store (optional). Dinner at a pizzeria, café or restaurant close to our apartments (optional) .

o Monday 29 April: Morning: Boat trip to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello(ticket included). Afternoon: Walk to San Marco Square listening to live music and admiring the Renaissance architecture. There are many restaurants there or dinner at a pizzeria, café or restaurant close to our apartments, or eat at home.

o Tuesday 30 April: Morning - Afternoon: Walk to Venice Biennale (ticket included), Giardini (6 hours).

o Wednesday 1 May: Morning - Afternoon: Walk to Venice Biennale (ticket included), Arsenale (6 hours).

o Thursday 2 May: Morning: Walk to Palais Ducale (Gothic Doge Palace); San Marco Basilica (tickets included); Church of San Saccaria(several artists, Bellini, Tintoretto, Tiepolo)

o Friday 3 May: Morning: (Water taxi) Basilica di Santa Maria dellaSalute (Titian paintings); San Georgio; Punta dellaDogana (Francois Pinault Collection); Peggy Guggenheim; (Optional) Afternoon:Visit Guideccafor more exhibitions or Boat to Lido island late afternoon.

o Saturday 4 May: (Water taxi) Palazzo Grassi (tickets included). Rialto Bridge browsing and shopping. (Optional) Palazzo Bembo (Personal Structures) or (Optional) Gallerie dellaAccademia.

o Sunday 5 May: Walk to other Biennale fringe venues (To be confirmed when the information becomes available). And to close on a high note: 6 pmCatamaran Sunset Jazz Cruise with Aperitivo!

o Monday 6 May: Book out and fly back, Alilaguna to airport.

 

COST

All prices exclude flights and meals.

Double shared accommodation (double bed) in private room: R22 100 per person.

Double shared accommodation (two singles) in private room: R22 100 per person.

Single accommodation in private room: R33 500 per person.

Private sofa bed in lounge: R19 800 per person.

Prices include 2023/2024 price increases in Venice.

Your trip must be confirmed and paid before 31 October 2023. There are between 8 and 17 places, depending on the type of accommodation booked.

Please wait for the go-ahead before payment, a minimum of 8 people is required for the tour to proceed.

Flights are cheaper at the momentso book your flight as soon as possible.

On booking you will be required to sign an indemnity form.

Contact Elfriede at elfriede.dreyer@gmail.com or 0832712342

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