One of Venice's historic buildings is being revitalised as a modern arts centre. The second floor of the Procuratie Vecchie, which runs along one side of St. Mark’s Square, is now open to the public for the first time in 500 years, reimagined as the San Marco Arts Centre (SMAC).
Venice is already a hub for contemporary art, thanks to its international biennale. However, SMAC aims to fill a unique niche in the city’s arts landscape by functioning as a Kunsthalle. This space hosts regular temporary exhibitions without being confined to a specific curatorial focus or theme. “We want to be flexible, dynamic, and responsive to what’s happening in the world,” said co-founder David Gramazio. This approach allows SMAC to showcase modern art, architecture, fashion, photography, and film."
The program is launching simultaneously with this year’s Architecture Biennale, featuring two solo exhibitions focused on architecture. One of the shows is a retrospective of Austrian-Australian architect Harry Seidler, often called “the high priest of modernism.”
The Procuratie was originally constructed in the first half of the 16th century as residences for public prosecutors of the Venetian Republic. Over time, the Italian insurance group Generali primarily used the building as offices. However, the company recently undertook a significant restoration project with Pritzker Prize-winning architect David Chipperfield. The third floor of the building opened to the public in 2022 and now houses the company's foundation, The Human Safety Net.
The extensive space redesign preserves the building’s Venetian features, including Napoleon-era frescoes and Venetian terrazzo floors, while making it suitable for art exhibitions. It includes state-of-the-art temperature and humidity control in every room. The 16-gallery, 10,793-square-foot space is located along the square's northern side and is arranged around a light-filled corridor. From the windows, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the iconic piazza, with St. Mark’s bell tower and basilica on one side and the ornate arcades of the Procuratie Nuove on the other, mirroring the Procuratie Vecchie. The opening of SMAC signifies Venice’s gradual transformation into a year-round arts capital, which is no longer solely reliant on the Biennale.
"A World of Potential" is an engaging exhibition suitable for visitors of all ages, focused on personal awareness. It offers a fun and playful experience that helps individuals understand and connect with their character strengths while recognizing the best qualities in those around them. Designed by Migliore+Servetto, the exhibition presents a series of experiences that guide visitors in discovering their potential, starting from values such as creativity, perseverance, gratitude, curiosity, hope, social intelligence, and teamwork.
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