Etnia House of Arts Opens in Restored 13th-Century Venetian Church

On May 5, 2026, the former Chiesa dell'Abbazia della Misericordia in Venice's Cannaregio district reopens as Etnia House of Arts, a cultural center and artist residency promoted by Spanish eyewear brand Etnia Eyewear Culture. The 13th-century Gothic building underwent a restoration by architects Piero Vespignani and Alessia Semenzato of Studio Anfibio. The project, founded by David Pellicer, aims to transform the historic space into a live platform where art is produced, exhibited, and shared as process, with no hierarchy between exhibition and production. The program includes international residencies, performances, installations, and public events, with a focus on the symbolic use of eyewear to explore vision, identity, and representation. The first two resident artists are Conxi Sane and Greta Pllana, who will create site-specific works engaging with the architecture and history of the space. The opening coincides with the Venice Biennale, positioning the venue within a global cultural dialogue while maintaining an independent perspective. Pellicer describes the initiative as a shift from celebrating creativity to actively supporting it, aiming to build a credible cultural ecosystem with curators, advisors, and institutions.