REAL VENICE is a major art project initiated by Venice in Peril and Ivorypress that aims to harness the creativity, the vigour, the internationalism – and the financial power – of contemporary art to saving Venice. Fourteen internationally renowned photographers were invited to visit Venice and create a portfolio of images. Each photographer has donated an edition of their portfolio to be sold in aid of Venice in Peril. These images feature in the exhibition entitled Real Venice which is on view from 4 June – 30 September 2011 at the Abbey of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, as part of the Venice Biennale. From 11 October - 11 December the exhibition will be on view at Somerset House in London. Coinciding with this exhibition, select works from the collection will be sold at auction on 3 November 2011 at Phillips de Pury & Company, London. "Venice is most definitely in peril. Just look at where the water is now. In many places it is at, or above, the line where the water-resistant stone bases of the buildings join with the porous brickwork. This has never been the case in previous centuries. This is why those who say that Venice will go on surviving because it has already survived so long are tragically mistaken. The charity Venice in Peril has been working for over 40 years to protect Venice from decay, to make reliable information known about the threats to the city, whether from the water, tourism, or over-exploitation, and to lobby for its protection. Venice in Peril, in collaboration with Ivorypress and generous backers, has launched a major art initiative to raise funds for Venice. Fourteen artists using the medium of photography have been selected to visit the city and with absolute freedom make a portfolio of images. They have all donated an edition of their portfolios to Venice in Peril. Choosing from these images, the Ivorypress team, led by Elena Foster, have been the curators of the exhibition Real Venice and have produced a publication with the same title as part of C Photo Project. After the exhibition closes in Venice on 30th September 2011, the photographs will travel to London, where they will be exhibited at Somerset House from 11th October - 11th December. Coinciding with this exhibition, selected photographs from the Real Venice collection will be included in the Phillips de Pury Photographs Sale, which is taking place in London at their Howick Place premises on 3rd November. All profits go to Venice in Peril. The aim of this exhibition has been to encourage good art about Venice to be made, but Venice in Peril will only consider the exhibition a real success if you also take away with you the message that, without good science, wise decision-making and a long term, well planned budget (the last two are conspicuously lacking), Venice has no future. Real Venice is a necessary initiative that harnesses the creativity, the vigour, the internationalism - and the financial power - of contemporary art to saving Venice, an ancient, exquisite city where art has always been of the essence." Anna Somers Cocks Chairman, Venice in Peril