La Biennale di Venezia Marks 60 Years Since the 1966 Acqua Granda with All-Night Vigil and Letters to 2066
On 4 November, marking sixty years since the catastrophic flood of 1966, La Biennale di Venezia will host La veglia dell'Acqua Granda 1966-2066 from 18.30 to 1.00 at its newly established Arsenale venue. This event, designed by Marco Paolini and Michela Signori with the guidance of consultant Davide Iodice, incorporates elements of theatre, music, and scientific discourse. Performances will feature original texts narrated by Mirko Artuso, Matteo Campagnol, and others, along with the Coro delle Cicale and compositions by Guido Sodo. Contributions from researchers such as Chiara Anzolini and Giulio Boccaletti will be included. Letters addressed to Venice for 2066 will be preserved until the flood's centenary, with writing ongoing until 4 November 2027. This is a Jolefilm coproduction with La Fabbrica del Mondo.
Key facts
- La veglia dell'Acqua Granda 1966-2066 takes place Wednesday 4 November from 18.30 to 1.00 at the Archivio Storico's new Arsenale venue in Venice
- The event commemorates the acqua alta of 4 November 1966 on its 60th anniversary
- Marco Paolini and Michela Signori conceived the project within Atlante delle Rive, with consultancy by Davide Iodice
- Civic letters to Venice in 2066 go into the "VENEZIA 2066" mailbox, sealed until 4 November 2066
- Letters may be sent by post to Ca' Giustinian, Calle Ridotto 1364/A, 30124 Venezia, or deposited by hand
- The writing invitation remains open until 4 November 2027
- Performers include Mirko Artuso, Matteo Campagnol, Marco De Rossi, Sandra Mangini, Marco Paolini, Emanuele Pasqualini, Barbara Riebolge and Aida Talliente
- Scientists taking part include Chiara Anzolini, Giulio Boccaletti, Sandro Carniel, Tullia Penna, Marco Paladini and Andrea Rinaldo
- Tiziano Scarpa contributes the one-act "Cefala Cefania"; the Coro delle Cicale is directed by Giuseppina Casarin with music by Guido Sodo
- The project is an original La Biennale di Venezia production, coproduced by Jolefilm with La Fabbrica del Mondo
Entities
Artists
- Marco Paolini
- Michela Signori
- Davide Iodice
- Mirko Artuso
- Matteo Campagnol
- Marco De Rossi
- Sandra Mangini
- Emanuele Pasqualini
- Barbara Riebolge
- Aida Talliente
- Giuseppina Casarin
- Guido Sodo
- Tiziano Scarpa
- Chiara Anzolini
- Giulio Boccaletti
- Sandro Carniel
- Tullia Penna
- Marco Paladini
- Andrea Rinaldo
- Grazia Capraro
- Marco Duse
Institutions
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Archivio Storico – Centro Internazionale della Ricerca sulle Arti Contemporanee
- Atlante delle Rive
- Jolefilm
- La Fabbrica del Mondo
- Coro delle Cicale
- Centro Servizi San Giobbe (I.P.A.V.)
- Biennale Teatro 2026
- Ca' Giustinian
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Arsenale
- Ca' Giustinian
- San Marco
- Calle Ridotto