Autonoma

An extracurricular exchange program for international high school students, aiming at supporting youth through glassmaking and community-building.

Governor’s School for the Arts

Partnering with Governor’s School for the Arts, a public school in Norfolk, Virginia, Autonoma’s sixth edition invited six glass artists aged 15 to 17 and their teachers to Venice for a week. The participants visited museums, Biennale art shows, and glass factories, and participated in a design workshop alongside Marcantonio in his studio.

(Starting date) 2026
(Location) Venezia/Murano
(Category) Community, Cultural
(Type) Glassmaking, Research, Workshop
(Coordinator)
Benjamin Wright (USA)
(Tutors)
Kim Hardy (USA), Sherrod Faulks (USA), Elisa Etrari (ITA)
(Partners)
The Governor’s School for the Arts (Norfolk, Virginia, USA)

The 4 L.I.F.E. (Four Leaders In Full Effect) Group

Autonoma’s fifth edition was developed in collaboration with Foci MCGA — Minnesota’s only non-profit public access glass studio and education center — in partnership with Project for Pride in Living, as part of their program LEAP, offering education, support and tutoring to young glass makers from communities affected by systemic inequalities. Ariana, Izaiah, Jorge and Moncies traveled to Venice for a 10-day workshop including cultural visits in the city and hands-on experiences in the Murano hotshops. The participants worked side-by-side with local glassmasters, crafting small glass sculptures that were eventually assembled into one collaborative installation.

Watch the film →

(Starting date) 2025
(Location) Venezia/Murano
(Category) Community, Cultural
(Type) Glassmaking, Research, Workshop
(Coordinator)
Benjamin Wright (USA)
(Tutors)
Victoria Pena (USA), Abbey Ufflman (USA), Elisa Etrari (ITA)
(Partners)
Foci Minnesota Centre for Glass Arts (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA), Project for Pride in Living (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA), LEAP (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)

Project Fire

Autonoma’s fourth iteration was developed in collaboration with the US non-profit organization Firebird as part of their glassblowing program Project FIRE, offering a healing pathway to youth affected by gun violence in Chicago. Jojo, Cyencere, Jakwon, Chiontea, and Lynquell joined Abate Zanetti’s fourth-grade students Liam, Francesca, and Nicole, in Murano for a 10-day workshop in the school’s hot shop. The participants focused on crafting little animals and tumblers that were eventually assembled to create original goblets, symbolizing the connection of distant worlds.

Watch the film →

(Starting date) 2024
(Location) Murano, Venezia
(Category) Community, Cultural
(Type) Glassmaking, Research, Workshop
(Coordinator)
Benjamin Wright (USA), Bianca Spessotto (ITA)
(Photos by)
Alessandro Trevisan
(Partners)
Firebird Community Arts , Abate Zanetti (Murano, ITA)

The 2023 International Youth Conference

For the program’s third edition, 18 students and 9 instructors from three countries met at the Pilchuck Glass School, near Seattle, for a two-week residency. During the conference – aimed at fostering cross-cultural exchange and collaboration– the students partook in workshops and lessons about sustainability in glass art and design. Maria Vittoria and Dorotea from Abate Zanetti High School in Murano were selected to participate in the event alongside their teacher and glass master, Eros Raffael.

(Starting date) 2023
(Location) Stanwood, Washington
(Category) Community, Cultural
(Type) Glassmaking, Research, Workshop
(Photos by)
Lane Bruce (courtesy of Pilchuck Glass School)
(Partners)
Abate Zanetti (Murano, ITA), Pilchuck Glass School (Stanwood, Washington, USA)
(Financed By)
GMG Funds

Paint the World

This program saw the creation of a site-specific installation for the courtyard of Murano’s local high school. A collaborative effort between young artists Laila, Emma, Sofia, and Abate Zanetti’s fourth-year students Dorotea, Samuele, Melissa, and Yadali, the artwork was developed during a five-day workshop engineered to embody the initiative’s values of cultural enrichment and creative connection.

(Starting date) 2022
(Location) Venezia/Murano
(Category) Community, Cultural
(Type) Glassmaking, Workshop
(Coordinator)
Alice De Santillana (ITA), Bianca Spessotto (ITA)
(Partners)
Abate Zanetti (Murano, ITA), YAYA (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA), Pilchuck Glass School (Stanwood, Washington, USA)
(Financed By)
GMG Funds

Close Distance

Participants were invited to hone their collaboration skills by designing their ideal table sets. Despite not being able to travel to Murano due to the COVID-19 crisis, they were able to learn from glass maestro Lino Tagliapietra’s decades of wisdom and experience, thanks to a fifty-minute documentary.

Watch the film →

(Starting date) 2020
(Location) Venezia/Murano
(Category) Community, Cultural
(Type) Glassmaking, Short film, Workshop
(Coordinator)
Alice De Santillana (ITA)
(Partners)
Abate Zanetti (Murano, ITA), YAYA (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA), Hilltop (Tacoma, Washington, USA), Pilchuck Glass School (Stanwood, Washington, USA)