From the lovingly crafted leatherwork in Florence’s Oltrarno to the intricate mosaics made in Pietrasanta, Tuscany’s artisan traditions are an irreplaceable element of the region’s character. A current Kickstarter campaign created by international businesswoman Belinda Hall offers a unique chance to contribute to the preservation of Tuscany’s time-honored craft traditions.
Hall, who divides her time among Sydney, London and Tuscany, manages Home of Artisans, a curated online marketplace featuring work by artisans from all over the world. With her new Kickstarter campaign, she wants to bring the online experience of Home of Artisans offline—in the form of a pop-up Gallery of Craftsmanship in Bagni di Lucca. In addition to creating a space to showcase the works of selected artisans, funds raised will help sponsor the annual Bagni di Lucca Art Festival, running from July 5 to August 10.
The exhibition space will tell the individual stories of featured artisans, and videography will bring each of their creative processes to life. Kickstarter funds will also go toward the rental costs of the gallery, the 6-week employment of a full-time, locally based, Italian-speaking assistant, and printing costs of a commemorative book. Technical development is also in need of funding, as Hall hopes to seamlessly link the digital world to the unique offline experience the gallery will offer.
For the project to be funded, Hall must reach at least £11,500 in Kickstarter pledges by Friday, June 6, 2014. To learn more and donate, head to http://kck.st/1fNapKB.
