Venice Foundation launched the Venice Capital of New Crafts project with a well-attended event held this morning. For Michele Bugliesi, president of the Foundation, there is a close link between craftsmanship, residency and urban regeneration. In the project, craftsmanship is seen as a resource that, when combined with new technologies and entrepreneurial development, can trigger important paths of economic and social growth.
Speaking at the event was Simone Venturini, Councillor for Social Cohesion, Tourism, Economic Development, Labor and Housing of the City of Venice, who stressed the importance of looking at the city from a different perspective, no longer anchored in the past, but projected into the future. Citing Stefano Micelli's book, Futuro Artigiano, Venturini wanted to emphasize how much craftsmanship can make an active contribution to this new vision.
Alberto Cavalli, general director Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d'Arte and curator of Homo Faber recalled that the extraordinary success of the exhibition (55,000 visits in less than three weeks!) was attributable to the perceived authenticity and uniqueness of the craft products. People, Cavalli said, were leaving the exhibition happy because they had grasped the great ingenuity and care in the craftsman's work. Ingenuity and care that turn an object into more than just a product: into an asset with a high value content.
For Alberto Ferlenga, IUAV University, IUAV Foundation President, complexity is of our time, but Italy has always been able to interpret it. This complexity changes over time, just think of Venice: one must be able to interpret it with the most appropriate tools. Matteo Masat, Director of Confartigianato Imprese Città Metropolitana di Venezia, brought attention to the issue of the narrative of craftsmanship, which especially in Venice has not been told in the most appropriate way.
Stefano Micelli, executive chairman of Upskill 4.0, emphasized two crucial aspects for the revitalization of craftsmanship: the need to involve the younger generation and learning a new way of working that can foster creativity and innovation. On the first point, Upskill 4.0 is working to create a virtuous bridge between businesses and young people by creating social as well as economic dynamics that have a strong impact on the territories by implementing projects such as Upskill Venice. On the second point, Micelli highlighted that what artisans often lack is a method. Creativity also needs tools for innovation, as Design Thinking is. You don't just need flair and spark, new craftsmanship needs to follow defined processes. Only in this way can new artisans regain a greater awareness of their work and self-confidence. Making something new is thus no longer the result of chance or generic inspiration but is the result of a path. Awareness and confidence that are key ingredients for building good jobs, jobs that are not only able to guarantee more than decent economic support but, above all, able to give meaning to one's actions. This theme is at the very heart of the Upskill 4.0 project.
For Michela Scibilia, President of CNA Venice Metropolitan Association, craftsmanship in Venice is not only craftsmanship of excellence or craftsmanship within businesses, but it is also craftsmanship related to maintenance that takes care of the sensitive aspects that make up Venice.
The eight companies participating in the second edition of Upskill Venezia were then presented at the event: they told their stories, recalled why they chose to participate in the project promoted by the Venice Foundation, with some of the ITS students in the room who are carrying out the project challenges launched by the participating companies: a new communication strategy to tell the values of Rimani; expanding the community of readers of the Wetlands publishing house; creating innovative formats for the Gloria Rogliani Sports Association; raising awareness among new generations about the ancient tradition of Burano lace by Martina Vidal; new online and in-presence experiential formats for Micromega; communicating the uniqueness of the objects made by Rehub in an innovative way; improving the online experience of Ramosalso's customers; and creating innovative digital and physical formats for the Venice bookstore and bistro sullaluna.
For Elena Donazzan, Assessore Istruzione, Formazione, Lavoro e Pari Opportunità Regione del Veneto, creativity is education. In Venice there is a birth rate problem, it is a very expensive city, and the negative narrative that has accompanied enterprises like the Mose in recent years have damaged the image of a reality that nevertheless has many true stories, which deserve to be supported and told. ITSs are interesting, flexible realities that can provide that necessary potential for the future. A major training action will be done in Venice in 2023, so that it will be ready and entitled to receive substantial European funds dedicated to territorial regeneration in the coming years.