Venice International Foundation

History of the Committee

Founded in 1996 with the aim of creating a private organization to support the Civic Museums of Venice, Venice International Foundation was the first association in Italy to channel private funding into the public museum sector through micro-patronage.

Over the years, the Foundation has developed new ways to protect, restore, and enhance Venice and its historical, artistic, and cultural heritage, gradually expanding its scope to include other major Venetian institutions such as the Fondazione Querini Stampalia and the Gallerie dell’Accademia.

Today, VIF represents an international network of supporters, patrons, and enthusiasts united by the desire to make a tangible contribution to the preservation and revitalization of the city of Venice.

Current projects

Venice International Foundation currently supports various conservation, research, and cultural promotion projects, including:

• The restoration of the Papadopoli Room at the Correr Museum
• Support for the restoration and diagnostic laboratories of the Gallerie dell’Accademia through the introduction of advanced technologies such as the 3D digital microscope
• Annual scholarships for young technicians specializing in restoration and diagnostics
• Projects dedicated to the urban landscape of Venice
• Kunsthaus Paradiso – abitare Venezia, a temporary cultural project developed for the 2026 Venice Biennale and dedicated to the contemporary Venetian art scene

Future projects

The Foundation intends to continue supporting projects aimed at preserving and promoting Venice’s cultural heritage, while strengthening dialogue among cultural institutions, private supporters, and the international community.

Future objectives include expanding the international network of members and partners, supporting new initiatives in research, restoration, and contemporary arts, and promoting Venice as a vibrant hub of cultural and artistic production.

What can be and is the role of our Committee within the Association?

The Venice International Foundation can support the Association by serving as an active partner in promoting joint projects, developing international fundraising initiatives, and fostering connections among public agencies, cultural institutions, businesses, and private donors.

The Foundation considers networking among all organizations dedicated to the preservation of Venice to be of fundamental importance, believing that collaboration is essential to ensuring concrete, sustainable, and long-lasting actions.

What does working in Venice mean for our Committee?

Working for Venice means taking on a responsibility toward a city that is unique in the world—fragile yet extraordinarily vibrant. It means contributing to the preservation of its historical, artistic, and cultural heritage, supporting the institutions that safeguard the city’s memory, and promoting a vision of Venice as a contemporary city, a living community looking toward the future.

For the Venice International Foundation, working for Venice means creating connections between people, institutions, and international supporters so that the city can continue to be a place of culture, research, artistic production, and exchange.