the Promovetro Consortium, committed to the promotion, valorisation and safeguarding of the traditional art of local glass making, has launched The Heart of Venice International Competition for Ideas aimed at establishing a dialogue between companies on Murano and their technical and cultural heritage and innovative design ideas from all over the world.
Backed by a unique millenary tradition, glass products made on the island of Murano are protected by the Vetro Artistico Murano mark administered by the Promovetro Consortium which certifies their origin and exclusive excellence. Handed down from father to son, knowledge of Murano's glass making techniques enables the island's glassworks to produce objects with unique shapes and colours, thanks to their skill in transforming the silica sand dried on the island and modelled using fire and a high level of craftsmanship.
A cultural wealth which the Consortium wants to put in contact with creativity of artists from all round the world, invited to take part in a competition which will translate the best ideas into concrete objects produced on the island itself in collaboration with master glassworkers.To facilitate the dialogue between local producers and national and international companies, the historic Abate Zanetti School of Glass has been involved to coordinate all phases of the competition.As the name suggests, the image chosen for the competition is the throbbing red Murano glass heart, symbol and defence of tradition and of an ancient art, the soul and passion of Venice and Made in Italy recognised throughout the world.Open to everyone whether individually or in groups and without age limit, the Competition opens on 9th October 2006 and until 4th December 2006 will gather illustrations and ideas proposing a rich range of models applicable to Murano production, capable of reinterpreting the types, styles and techniques of the Venice glass making tradition through contemporary aesthetic and cultural stimuli.
The competition includes four main categories and types:- Lighting in glassdesign of glass lighting elements to visually enhance interiors, with particular attention to the relationship between light and construction material;- Containing in glassdesign of glass objects with a functional purpose;- Living in glassdesign of glass objects to visually improve the home;- Decorating in glassdesign of glass objects to visually improve everyday life and the person;From the entries received via e-mail or delivered physically to the premises of the Abate Zanetti School of Glass, 20 designs will be selected by a Technical Committee made up of representatives of the Promovetro Consortium and the School of Glass.The selected participants will be offered a workshop on Murano lasting five days at the beginning of next year from 8 January to 18 February... a unique experience in which they will have the opportunity to collaborate in producing the design at one of the Consortium's companies.
The prototypes produced will be featured in an exhibition organised in a prestigious Venice museum in March 2007 when the designs can also be voted for by the public through the site http://www.theheartofvenice.com.
The Panel of Judges (which will include well known personalities from the world of culture, industry and society as well as representatives of the Consortium and School of Glass) will consider the prototypes produced and award a prize of €2,500.00 in each category.Among the four prize winners, a design of excellence standing out as the best creative idea applicable to traditional glass working will also be selected to win The Heart of Venice Prize worth €3,500.00.A further prize of €1,000.00 will be awarded to the design most voted for by visitors to the site, invited to participate by expressing their preference through a survey on the internet.The prizes will be awarded on 30 March 2007 during a charity evening in Venice, during which the final prototypes will be auctioned with the entire proceeds donated to charity.In its first edition,
The Heart of Venice competition hopes to become a regular appointment for exploring and dialoguing on new ideas at international level, capable of reinterpreting a local tradition of great value and moving it nearer to a vast public of designers curious about this world made up of age-old passion, glass and culture.for information and registration on The Heart of Venice competition:http://www.theheartofvenice.com
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