[BCMA] Splash of Red Goes Online in 2020!

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

PDF and Photo attached

July 27, 2020


*Public Service Announcement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*SPLASH OF RED 2020! *

*Caetani Centre’s popular charity fundraiser moves fully online with new
website launch for online auction July 31 – August 13*

*3401 Pleasant Valley Road, Vernon, BC 250-275-1525*

The Caetani Centre’s popular charity fundraising auction Splash of Red is
moving fully online for 2020 due to the realities of Covid-19.

The event normally features a full 4 course Italian dinner under the stars
complete with wine pairings, live entertainment and an auction of fine
artwork by local artists. This format is impossible to replicate online.

“We decided to simplify the online event as much as possible. We were
astounded at the enthusiastic and generous levels of support we still
received from local businesses and sponsors, and are especially grateful
for donations received by local artists who still wanted to support our
organization, some even donating more than one work, even though we were
not able to host the live event,” said Caetani Centre Executive Director
Susan Brandoli.

“It is a humbling experience, and the Caetani Society is so thankful for
their continued support during these trying times, when so many are
struggling.”

In anticipation of the online auction, the Society has launched a brand new
satellite website, splashofred.ca, to host the auction event and to feature
the 35 unique art pieces up for auction.

Although the live event will not take place, all works can be viewed online
on the new website, and also on the Centre’s social media sites, and there
will still be a live pre-viewing and exhibition of the artwork donated to
Splash of Red available beginning July 28 and running until August 13.

The preview exhibition will take place in the Caetani Studio Gallery,
located onsite at the Caetani Centre, 3401 Pleasant Valley Road, Vernon,
BC, during regular office hours and by appointment (social distancing and
masks in effect please!). Call the Caetani Centre office to book a time, or
register online for a live viewing at splashofred.ca.

All interested bidders must register online to bid on the artwork as well.
“There is no fee to register, so we hope that the online version will reach
a wider audience this year.”

*BUY NOW** option available for a limited time only July 27 – August 13
only!*

New and unique to the auction is the *BUY NOW* feature, which will only be
available for a limited time starting July 28 and will disappear by August
7.

This feature allows people to skip the auction and drama of wondering if
they will be the successful bidder. They have the option to just pay the
Fair Market Value (the price an artist would normally sell their work for)
and then they are automatically the owner of their favourite work.

*Regular online bidding opens July 31, 10 am and continues to August 13,
8pm.*

“People will still be able to register to bid online for the remaining
artworks from July 31 up to the night of August 13, until the auction
closes at 8pm,” said Brandoli. “However, if the BUY NOW button is still
showing, the bidders have an opportunity to step in and purchase the
artwork outright, to scoop it away from the other bidders.”

All funds from the Splash of Red will go directly to support of the
operations of the Caetani Centre, and to development of this important
heritage site.

The Covid-19 virus has taken a toll on many cultural organizations both
locally and worldwide. The Caetani Centre in Vernon is no exception, and
has been hit particularly hard.

As an organization that relies primarily on live events and public programs
for its’ livelihood, it has seen its’ normal revenue stream virtually
disappear.

“The covid-19 situation has been devastating for our organization. Our
staffing and programming has been slashed to a bare minimum, and we are
still not fully open to the public,” said Brandoli.

“We get a significant number of artists and writers who take part in our
live/work Residency Program for artists and writers, who come here to stay
in Vernon from across Canada, the USA and internationally. With the travel
restrictions in place, even between some provinces, we have seen a severe
decline in the ability of people to come to the North Okanagan for our
programs.”

Public community programs have been suspended for the foreseeable future,
and some programming has been moved online, whenever possible.

“The safety of our guests and visitors is paramount. The one event we have
proceeded with is the outdoor Summer Music Festival concert series, but it
has been severely reduced in scope to adhere to the mandated provincial and
federal health guidelines for social distancing, using masks, and limiting
access and numbers. We have set up sanitization stations, etc., for the
live events that are able to continue.”

Despite its current challenges, the Caetani Centre Society is confident
that it will weather these challenges. The society boasts a strong core
group of supporters, members, donors, artists and volunteers who are
determined to realize the vision and potential of this unique heritage site
- one with a mysterious, disturbing, and yet inspiring, story of overcoming
adversity.

“Our benefactor, Sveva Caetani, would fully understand and sympathize with
our predicament. She lived and dreamed in isolation for over 25 years, held
a prisoner in her own home by her own mother and circumstances,” said
Brandoli.

“She emerged from the other side of her forced isolation to become a
well-respected teacher, artist and mentor in our community, and created an
incredible body of art works that continue to inspire local artists and
writers today on a national and international scale. Her legacy and unique
story is definitely one of the local histories that needs to be celebrated
and remembered.”

*The public is reminded that when visiting, to please wear a mask and
remember that social distancing measures are in effect. Sanitization
stations are available onsite.*

For more information please visit our main website https://www.caetani.org

or the splashofred.ca website, or contact Susan Brandoli at the Caetani
Centre at 250-275-1525.



Photo attached:

*Splash of Red Organizing Committee (left to right):*

Susan Brandoli, Committee Chair Karen Winsor-Geatros, Shaughnessy Barker,
Alex Lockwood, Board President Sherry Price, AJ Jeager, Kristin Froneman,
Kathy Parton
Thank you!

Susan Brandoli, BA, BFA, MFA
Executive Director
Caetani Cultural Centre
www.caetani.org
250-275-1525



*I respectfully acknowledge that my work place is within the ancestral,
traditional, and unceded territory of the Syilx Nation.*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.vifa.ca/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20200729/b5138e2a/attachment-0001.htm 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Splash of Red Committee .jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1752370 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.vifa.ca/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20200729/b5138e2a/attachment-0001.jpeg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Splash of Red_Press Release July 2020.docx
Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Size: 238933 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.vifa.ca/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20200729/b5138e2a/attachment-0001.bin