Two new art centres set to open in Venice

Two new art spaces are due to launch in Venice early next month. The first, the San Marco Art Centre (SMAC), will be located on the second floor of the Procuratie in St Mark’s Square, and will focus on art, architecture, fashion, technology, and film.

The new hub, which is due to open on 7 May, was founded by David Hrankovic, managing director of the TBA-21 space in Venice, along with Anna Bursaux and David Gramazio of the Museum Box company, which is described as providing international strategy for museums worldwide.

“We are a spontaneous and experimental organisation, testing traditional models of arts institutions and exhibition making,” say the founders in a statement. “SMAC does not sell artworks; it does not have a permanent collection and will have a programme solely dedicated to temporary exhibitions conducted developed by SMAC in collaboration with international institutions and curators.”

Asked how the space will be funded, the spokesperson says: “SMAC raises money from admissions, and relies on the generosity of its partners, supporters and sponsors for all of its programmes.” She adds that SMAC is a permanent initiative as “SMAC has signed a long-term agreement with Generali [real estate, the owner of the Procuratie] for use of the space”.

The SMAC space comprises 16 galleries which were recently restored by the high-profile UK architect David Chipperfield. The inaugural shows, coinciding with the Venice Architecture Biennale (10 May-23 November), are dedicated to the Australian architect Harry Seidler and the Korean landscape designer Jung Youngsun (9 May-13 July).

Meanwhile the non-profit Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation has taken over an historic building in the city’s Dorsoduro district, which was owned by the painter Ettore Tito in the 1920s. The venue launches with a site-specific installation by the Georgian artist Tolia Astakhishvili (7 May-23 November) which also incorporates works by artists such as Zurab Astakhishvili and Thea Djordjadze.

The foundation, established in 2022 and named after the eponymous high-profile Italian-born arts patron, will fund the renovation of the building and operational costs. According to an online statement, the organisation “encourages the exploration of art through multisensory and unconventional approaches while fostering the cross-pollination of radical ideas.”