Mestre's Ex Emeroteca Transforms into Contemporary Art Center

A new contemporary art center has opened in Mestre, housed in the regenerated spaces of the former Ex Emeroteca in Piazza Erminio Ferretto. The project aims to blend culture and sociality through events, readings, meetings, artist residencies, and a literary café. It seeks an international dimension via collaborations with similar entities in Italy and Europe. The initiative is led by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, together with the Comune di Venezia and Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa. Mariacristina Gribaudi, president of the foundation, described the space as a catalyst for ideas and talents where tradition meets innovation. Thirteen artist studios are available, ten assigned via public tender to young people aged 18–30 who have undertaken training in Veneto. Two residencies are reserved for participants in the Artefici del Nostro Tempo competition, and one for the Premio Mestre di Pittura. These studios, which for the first time also host collectives, join the fifteen historical ones at SS. Cosma e Damiano alla Giudecca and Palazzo Carminati a San Stae, all curated by Antonio Grulli for 2024/2025. The literary café will host events, readings, and meetings, inspired by European literary salons. To inaugurate the center, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's permanent installation Lion's Tail, first exhibited at Museo Correr in 1999, has been placed in a public space as a symbol of accessibility and dialogue with the city.