Italian
Competitions are open for 25 artist studios between Venice and Mestre. Among the major innovations this year, the introduction of international residencies coordinated by MAECI and the mentorship program ‘Equal Perspectives’.
VENICE – A map of twenty-five studios spread between the historic heart of the lagoon and the mainland, along with global mobility pathways and a strong focus on social inclusion. The Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation, together with the Civic Museums Foundation of Venice (MUVE), has officially announced the opening of the long-awaited calls for the Atelier 2026-2027 program.
The initiative, heir to the centuries-old legacy born at the beginning of the twentieth century thanks to the visionary donation of Felicita Bevilacqua La Masa, confirms itself as one of the most important and long-lasting Italian platforms dedicated to scouting and supporting young contemporary art. This year, the project takes a significant step forward, expanding its educational offerings and opening up to a structured international scope.
Spaces to create: 25 studios distributed across the territory
For the new biennial season, the offer of workspaces becomes even more solid and widespread. A total of twenty-five artist studios will be assigned. Of these, fifteen are managed by the Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation and are located in the historic center of Venice – divided between the evocative settings of the Complex of Saints Cosmas and Damian at Giudecca and Palazzo Carminati at San Stae. The other ten will be hosted in Mestre at the Emeroteca dell’Arte, renewing a strengthened alliance with MUVE.
The call is expressly aimed at emerging talents aged between 18 and 30 who are residents of Veneto or permanently domiciled in the Metropolitan City of Venice. The selected artists will have the opportunity to use their studio free of charge from November 2026 to October 2027, working in a dynamic environment of constant contamination and professional growth.
Beyond the borders of the lagoon: international residences are coming
The true revolution of the 2026-2027 edition lies in the international opening of the program. Thanks to a strategic agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), supported by the coordination of the Civic Museums Foundation, some of the artists assigned to the studios will have the opportunity to access a month of residency abroad. Research stays will be activated at foreign cultural institutions identified in synergy with the network of Italian Cultural Institutes around the world.
At the same time, the ethical and civic responsibility of art is strengthened: the project Equal Perspectives, promoted in collaboration with the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, will introduce workshop and training paths focused on social equity, gender equality, and representation in contemporary visual languages.
“Supporting young artists means making a concrete investment in the future of culture”, emphasized Mariacristina Gribaudi, President of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia. “With this program, we strengthen Venice’s role as an international platform for training and research, opening new horizons for the new generations”.
Seeking a curator: the figure of the mentor
Alongside the selection of artists, the public notice for the identification of the Curator of the Atelier program 2026-2027 has been published. This figure will play a crucial role: they will not only be responsible for the initial selection but will also act as a true mentor throughout the residency year, overseeing tutoring activities, organizing open studios, managing public talks, and signing off on the exhibition project and the catalog of the final collective show.
“In its more than a century-long history, the Foundation has often updated the learning and relational environment for young artists”, said Bruno Bernardi, President of the Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation. “This has led to the creation of increasingly broader networks of exchange and collaboration. For this reason, the role of the curator has become increasingly important, a true mentor for the young”.
Deadlines and Technical Documentation
Both competitive procedures follow the same time frame for submitting applications.
- Deadline for Atelier Call (Artists): Friday, September 11 at 12:00 PM.
- Deadline for Curatorship Notice: Friday, September 11 at 12:00 PM.
- Calls and Forms: The full texts and participation forms can be downloaded from the official foundation portal at www.bevilacqualamasa.it.
