Artisan from Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua at work Susanna Pozzoli©Michelangelo Foundation
Homo Faber Event, after the inaugural edition held in 2018, returns to the splendid premises of the Giorgio Cini Foundation, Venice, after a long pause due to the Covid pandemic and following a thorough examination and evolution of its mission, vision and strategy. Intended as a meaningful moment of discovery and promotion for artisans, craft businesses and the culture of “well made”, Homo Faber Event will present, through the vision of a team of world-acknowledged curators and partners, an inspiring point of view on the importance of the concept of “crafts” for our contemporary society.
Human integrity, economic viability, expression of competence, growth of employment, social inclusion, and a celebration of the diversity of talents: all of these aspects will be encompassed in the redefinition of “crafts” that the Michelangelo Foundation is promoting, and which will find its international and very much anticipated expression at the Homo Faber Event.
The new dates of Homo Faber Event have been chosen in agreement with the Giorgio Cini Foundation and the Cologni Foundation for several reasons:
- Health and security: the foundations did not want to expose the international craft community to any danger related to the Covid pandemic. Homo Faber Event is made precious by the presence of artisans at work, who in this situation might have been exposed to risks; on top of that, many countries in the world (starting from Japan, guest of honour of this edition) would not have been able to send to Venice their own artisans or representatives, thus depriving the event of a relevant presence.
- Promotion and construction of value: for half of its duration, Homo Faber Event will coincide with the opening week of the Venice Art Biennale, one of the most prestigious and important events in the world connected with the culture of contemporary creation. The precious synergies that can be developed, in partnership with the Giorgio Cini Foundation and the other partners involved, will allow us to inscribe contemporary craft into a new dimension, proposing it as a naturally acknowledged part of that universe of beauty, meaning and research that contemporary art promotes.
- Inclusion and diversity: the foundation will have the pleasure to enrich the cultural offer of Homo Faber Event, thanks to the collaboration with the curatorial team, to multiply the points of view on new aspects of crafts, on unexpected opportunities, on rising stars of artisanship, on the beauty that arises when talent meets creativity.
The Michelangelo Foundation would like to give thanks to its partners, to its networks, to its collaborators (with a special mention to the Giorgio Cini Foundation and to Civita Tre Venezie, its general contractor) for the enthusiastic and careful work carried out together, required to reschedule the event for next Spring.
A new page is about to be written, to give back value and visibility to master craftspeople, and we are proud to be part of this movement.
Geneva, 20 May 2021
San Giorgio Maggiore Island - Matteo De Fina © Courtesy of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini
Notes for editors
Homo Faber Event
Crafting a more human future
Fondazione Giorgio Cini, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice
Homo Faber Event is a major cultural exhibition dedicated to fine craftsmanship. Organised by the Michelangelo Foundation, the international event celebrates master craftsmanship, seeking to increase recognition and visibility for master artisans. A showcase of craftsmanship excellence, the exhibition shines a light on a rich diversity of materials and crafts, from paper making to wood working, from the rarest artisanal techniques to some of the most iconic examples of contemporary craftsmanship, and explores their links to the world of creativity and design. Imagined by a handpicked team of world-renowned designers, curators and architects, the exhibition stretches over a number of magnificent spaces throughout the Fondazione Giorgio Cini located on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in the heart of Venice. The inaugural edition in 2018 welcomed 62,500 visitors. homofaber.com
The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship believes in a future which values master craftsmanship and places the human hand at the centre of production. Its mission is to celebrate and preserve craftsmanship and strengthen its connection to the world of design. At the heart of all the foundation’s activities are the artisans who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of excellence using long-held traditions, skills and knowledge. In addition to the Homo Faber Event, contemporary craftspeople are the protagonists of the foundation’s signature digital platform, Homo Faber Guide. From its headquarters in Geneva, the non-profit institution works with an international network of organizations to promote a new cultural movement.
michelangelofoundation.org
homofaber.com
Newsletter
Japanese
Italian
French
English