The Place of Wonders Foundation, as part of the Mano a Mano project, has opened a call for four scholarships to become artisans in the art of Glass Beads
Until December 31, 2023, registration is open to participate in the selection for four scholarships to become artisans with the course in Creation and Use of Venetian Glass Beads 2024, held in Venice by Marisa Convento and Alessia Fuga.
The course, which aims to support a new generation of makers, is part of Mano a Mano, a comprehensive project promoting Venetian high craftsmanship born from the collaboration between The Place of Wonders Foundation and Venezia da Vivere.
The training program for this first edition will be led by Alessia Fuga – glass bead creator, designer and teacher of lampworking techniques – and by Impiraressa Marisa Convento.
The artisan tradition of the Art of Glass Beads is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Submit your application: complete the form and send it by email by December 31, 2023 to fondazione@theplaceofwonders.org.
The Program for the Four Scholarships to Become Artisans
The scholarships for artisans in the Art of Glass Beads include attendance of a 180-hour professional course, which will be held in Venice starting from February 2024.
Marisa Convento and Alessia Fuga will guide the scholarship recipients through theoretical and practical lessons in:
- Glass Technology: elements of physics, chemistry and glass production.
- Lampworking and creation of Venetian glass beads with practice and tutoring sessions.
- Use of lampworked beads and hollow cane beads.
- History of art and glass including visits to sites of interest in Murano and Venice and to the Murano Glass Museum.
- Introduction to the world of work with elements of marketing.
The Place of Wonders Foundation ensures coverage of the academic program costs. The four scholarship recipients will be responsible for the registration fee and the purchase of personal tools.
Developments of the Call: Craftsmanship for Conscious Travellers
In addition to creating professional courses in Venetian ateliers and historic workshops, the Mano a Mano project promotes high craftsmanship through activities, collaborations and cultural events in Venice.
The Place of Wonders Foundation has chosen to extend its support to Venice’s artisan tradition by commissioning five artisan companies to create a capsule collection of artistic artifacts.
Carlo Semenzato of Fonderia Valese, Giulia Bevilacqua of Tessiture Bevilacqua, Demis Marin of Ramosalso, Shanti Ganesha of Meracu, Alessia Fuga and Marisa Convento are the Wonders 2024.
This first limited edition of objects will be available from April 2024 at the Relais & Châteaux Londra Palace Venezia, an iconic hotel on the St. Mark’s Basin of The Hospitality Experience Collection.
The hotel, with its General Manager Alain Bullo as ambassador of territorial heritage, will be the meeting point between international travelers staying at the hotel and the social and cultural fabric of Venice.
The Foundation
The Place of Wonders is the Foundation of the Babini Family, dedicated to supporting and promoting the centuries-old tradition of Italian craftsmanship and creativity. It operates through the hotels & resorts of The Hospitality Experience Collection – Londra Palace Venezia, THE PLACE Firenze and Borgo dei Conti Resort in Umbria – and sponsors projects safeguarding artistic and artisan wonders in the reference territories.
For more information: www.theplaceofwonders.org.
Cover photo: Dario Garofalo for The Place of Wonders.
Photos in the article: Marta Formentello and Igor Serdyukov for Venezia da Vivere.
Artisans in order of appearance: Alessia Fuga, Marisa Convento, Giulia Bevilacqua of Tessiture Bevilacqua, Shanti Ganesha of Meracu, Demis Marin of Ramosalso, Carlo Semenzato of Fonderia Valese.
