Dear Friends, a few days before Liesbeth Bollen died I was fortunate to spend a short time with her and her husband Leo together. We talked about endowing one or more internships at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in her name—a way of perpetuating her memory at the museum which she loved and which loved her. Liesbeth was enthusiastic, and asked that the internship be open to all nationalities (not just her own, Belgian). I was able subsequently to mention this project, as a way of remembering Liesbeth, to several of her family and friends and all agreed that this is a wonderful idea. Our target therefore is to raise not less than €100,000, a permanent endowment within the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, that would enable young student(s) of art, art history or museum studies to participate for three months in Peggy Guggenheim Collection operations and educational programs, with a stipend of €1,000 per month, and to do so in Liesbeth’s name. May I invite you therefore to help us to meet this goal, for Liesbeth’s sake? A few donations have already been pledged, and I am thrilled to say that one donor in particular has already offered half the amount we seek, which encourages us to hope that we may exceed our goal and sponsor more than one intern. Following are some notes on how you may give. Donors who are taxpayers in Italy, the UK, and the USA may benefit from income tax deductions. I and all the staff of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Leo Schubert and Liesbeth’s family, will all be extremely grateful, and proud of Liesbeth. Philip Rylands Venice, August 2007 Bank drafts or checks in US dollars should be written to ‘The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’ indicating “In memory of Liesbeth Bollen”. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) registered charity. Bank drafts: c/o Bank of America, 730 15th St. NW, Fl 2 Washington, DC 20005-1012, USA ROUTING: 026009593 / Account Number 0019 – 2466 – 9335 / Swift Code BOFAUS3N Checks: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10128 0173, USA attn.: Ashley Rotenstreich tel: +1 212.423.3872 arotenstreich@guggenheim.org Bank drafts or checks in pounds sterling should be written to ‘Guggenheim UK Charitable Trust’ indicating “In memory of Liesbeth Bollen” and sent to: Coutts & Co., St Martin’s Office, 440 Strand, London WC2R 0QS Sort Code 18 - 00 – 02 / a/c no. 62739201 / IBAN: BIC COUTGB22 British taxpayers qualify for tax benefits through ‘Gift Aid’. Please contact: Alick Campbell Esq., Great House, Chipping Sodbury, South Glocs. BS37 6PX, U.K. cell: +44 7979 518 261, alickcampbell@aol.com In circumstances in which the payment lacks a description of its purpose, we ask that you please send some type of communication (e.g. letter, e-mail, fax, etc.) specifying the purpose of the credit. For further inquiries or donations by credit card please contact: Sophie M. Fabiani tel: +39.041.2405434 fax: +39.041.5206885 sfabiani@guggenheim-venice.it Liesbeth Bollen (1970-2007) Born into a numerous and loving family in Kortenberg, Belgium, Liesbeth studied the history of art and museology at the Universities of Leuven and Florence. In 1997 following a ‘stage’ in the cultural section of the European Commission in Brussels, Liesbeth joined the internship programme at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. She quickly emerged as a star, and took a position managing the entire internship programme. She was later promoted to press and communications officer. By this time she was becoming well known among the cultural institutions, public and private, of Venice and was widely admired for her hard work, her strong sense of duty and commitment to her work, for her efficiency and perhaps above all for her sweet and charming personality. In 2005 Liesbeth transferred to the office of the director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, where she was responsible for managing public relations, above all with the Foundation’s trustees. Shortly before her departure she had married the Swiss-Austrian architect Leo Schubert, a widely respected figure in the field of Venetian architectural conservation. Leo and Liesbeth jointly decided, after a year in the USA, to return to their beloved Venice. In January 2006 Liesbeth rejoined the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, where the director, Philip Rylands gave her a new position as Director of External Affairs, with overall responsibility for membership, special events, fund-raising, communications and public relations. She had become, in fact, a very important and well-loved part of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection’s small staff and a key figure in the museum’s relations with its patrons: local authorities, benefactors, and especially the international Advisory Board of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. All those who have had the privilege of working with Liesbeth will confirm that she was a most exceptional person: with becoming modesty, beautiful manners, stylish and charming in her person, serene in her temperament and wise in judgment, all of which should be added to the virtues of loyalty, discretion and efficiency that she brought to her work at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Liesbeth died of cancer on July 29, 2007, in the Ospedale Civile of Venice, Ss. Giovanni e Paolo, and is buried at the Island of San Michele. TESTIMONIAL   Marianna Siciliano Liesbeth Bollen intern June-July 2009 I want to express my sincerest thanks for the opportunity to intern at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection this summer. The Liesbeth Bollen internship is a distinction I was truly honored to receive. What I experienced at the PGC will stay with me as I continue on in life and my future career. From the daily tasks of opening and closing the museum to interacting with a diverse public, talking with engaged visitors about Rauschenberg’s Gluts and bonding with fellow interns, I learned something new with each aspect of the day. The months I spent at the PGC will be ones I look back on with greatest affection, joy and appreciation.   Melissa Diaz Liesbeth Bollen intern June-July 2008 My internship at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection provided me with a wealth of professional and cultural opportunities. One of the most satisfying aspects of internship was presenting the museum’s historic collection to the public through daily talks and tours. I was also able to work in several of the museum’s departments, where I acquired valuable experience and professional development in issues concerning museum administration and permanent collection management. Working with a talented group of international interns allowed me to build strong friendships and professional relationships with students from all over the world. My overall experience was profoundly enriched by the Venetian landscape. As an intern, I was encouraged (and given the opportunities) to take advantage of the multitude of cultural and educational offerings in Venice and the Veneto region.   credits: Hangar Design Group