Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2020

COVID 19 & its IMPACT of the Creative Sector and KMB 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a sudden and substantial impact on the arts and culture communities worldwide with the closure of venues and the cancellation of major events forcing organisations to cease operation. While governments, corporates and individuals around the world have been doing their best to contribute to their sinking economy and helping professionals and companies in need, the arts and culture community continues to suffer. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is one of the leading art's exhibition throwing focus on the visual art practices in India and the world. KMB over the years has become a prominent exhibition that encourages discourse and a strong Indian voice in the Global Arts Community. A biennale that was created by artists for artists has become the People's Biennale and this would not have been possible with the support of the community at large. I have included a small video link about the Biennale for your perusal: https://youtu.be/bP-VE_fJ2aU

Every edition of the Biennale supports over 80 artists and gives them an international platform to express their creativity, showcase their practice, comment through discourse their responses to the world events that shape our future. The students Biennale gives an opportunity for over 60 student artist and young curators to showcase their creativity alongside their seniors and established artists. Our arts education programme provides and explores curriculum intervention and ensures Art History & Theory classes are provided to all art students to over 120 art schools across the country. KMB also creates a platform for writers, performers, cinema directors and creatives to express their voice and practice to over 6 lakh physical visitors and making its way into millions of online resources. 

Over the last 4 editions, the Biennale has been the main reason for the increase in touristic activity in the state attributing to a substantial increase in business in local community. KMB creates and adds to the economic activity of Fort Kochi, by offering livelihoods to the skilled labour communities, hospitality industry, local artists & craftsman and many more. Due to the pandemic this activity have completely stopped creating losses in business and unemployment in Fort Kochi and creative sectors. The arts sector is currently under enormous pressure to sustain, protect its artists and restore the creative activity, however due to the lack of funding for this sector by governments and corporates, leaves exhibitions such a KMB vulnerable to closure. 

The Kochi Biennale foundation is a non-profit heavily dependent on endowments and with the rise of the Covid Pandemic and the fragility of human existence, we appeal for the peoples support in ensuring the efforts of the Kochi Biennale Foundation continues and provides support and opportunity to the people who are affected in the creative industry. To enable this too happen we appeal from the people to support the Biennale by donating, INR 1000, INR 2500, INR 5000 and above. We hope to be able to achieve a minimum target of INR 2,00,00,000 by appealing to a minimum 20,000 people across India and the state of Kerala to help us uplift the community, aiding and ensuring income to artists, cultural professions and those who are impacted by the execution of the Biennale. 

For their generosity, we will attribute one page of the KMB website for those who have contributed and ensure each and every contributor will avail tickets and guided tours to the Biennale this year. In addition they will also get access to the online version of the Biennale and its programmes if they prefer not to attend. 

CAMPAIGN: 

KBF is compiling a list of its supporters and influencers who via a Video will be able to appeal to the masses to support KMB 2020. Most of the suggested influencers are people who have and continue to support the Biennale both financially and in-kind. KBF has a large content resource and a video lab that will be able to edit and create video's for the campaign.

Some Sample Videos of the Biennale are below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjwRIii8Z_U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlmuoTRDUgU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXxzAJHHxPs

I hope this gives you sufficient information on what we are all about and what we intend to do and achieve. I hope Give India can help us in achieving the above. While we understand there are no guarantee's in fundraising, we hope you will be able to aid us, give us a platform and your expertise in crowdfunding and help us communicate our initiative and appeal to the masses. While the biennale has a small database we would like to rely on your extensive contact base to educate them about our initiatives with the hope that they find merit in our initiative and donate for our cause. 

According to an impact assessment conducted by Vidya Mohankumar, architect, urban designer and founder of Urban Design Collective (UDC), it was noted that there was a:

• 166% rise in the number of tourists visiting Kerala since 2006

• 60% Biennale visitors are first-time visitors to Kerala

• 50% increase in business for local traders

• 35% hike in business for homestays 

• 35% rise in foreign tourists visiting between Dec-March since the first biennale edition in 2012

• Despite overlap with the tourist season, local businesses attributed up to 30% of their sales exclusively to the Biennale

The Kochi Muziris Biennale provides livelihoods to hundreds of homestays in and around Fort Kochi, Provides employment to the labour groups, contract work to local traders, enables cultural tourism to Fort Kochi enabling hospitality, travel, aviation and transport businesses. In addition it fuels the creative industry by giving opportunity to artists to create and exhibit and learn and survive.