Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia Opens New Campus on Giudecca Island

The Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia (ABA) has inaugurated a new educational hub on Giudecca Island, repurposing over 1,400 square meters of former industrial glass workshops into studios and classrooms. The space, leased from the Comune di Venezia via the Consorzio Cantieristica Minore Veneziana for 15 years (renewable), houses the Scuola in Nuove Tecnologie dell'Arte and relocated workshops for the Scuola di Pittura. Designed by Vincenzo Casali Studio, the renovation preserved original iron-framed windows and maritime character. The expansion responds to a post-pandemic enrollment boom and is part of broader urban regeneration efforts on Giudecca, which has fewer than 49,000 residents. President Michele Casarin emphasized collaboration with the city administration, while director Riccardo Caldura highlighted integration with ABA's main Zattere campus and new Santa Marta spaces. Construction was completed in four months, with the decision formalized in early 2022.