About Us
Personal Structures is a biennial art exhibition in Venice, organised by the European Cultural Centre Italy (ECC Italy), part of the non-profit association ECC Worldwide based in the Netherlands.
ECC is dedicated to fostering cultural and intellectual exchange through exhibitions, cultural projects, publications, video series, and educational programmes around the world. In Venice, we restore and care for historic venues, opening them to the public free of charge and sharing art, culture, and beauty with everyone.
Personal Structures alternates each year with our architecture exhibition Time Space Existence.
Venice as a Global Stage
Since 2011, the ECC Italy team has made Venice its home. Recognising the city’s historical and cultural significance, we have developed it as the ideal stage for our projects. Our exhibitions and events are carefully curated from start to finish, offering visitors unique experiences in dialogue with one of the world’s most extraordinary cities.
Discover ECC Italy
Meet the team
Main Organisers
Curatorial Team
Communication Team
Operational Team
Venice locations
Palazzo Mora
Palazzo Mora is located in the district of Cannaregio. It was constructed in the 16th century and was bought by the Mora family in 1716. The noble floor shows some frescoes attributed to Tiepolo made from 1720 to 1770. The exhibitions are being held in the two main floors, the mezzanine floor, the third floor and the entrance garden. Due to the position of the palace at the crowded Strada Nuova and the dimensions of the exhibition itself, Palazzo Mora welcomes every year a large number of visitors.
Palazzo Bembo
Situated near the Rialto Bridge, Palazzo Bembo is characterised by a magnificent façade built in the Venetian Gothic style facing the Grand Canal. The palace itself was committed by the noble Bembo family in the 15th century. While the interior has been modified several times during the past centuries, the exterior still maintains its original appearance. Thanks to the collaboration between the current owner of the palace and the ECC, the palace revives its past glory and hosts, since 2011, exhibitions and events in its two noble floors.
Marinaressa Gardens
The Marinaressa Gardens were constructed in the thirties of the 20th century and are located alongside the Riva dei Sette Martiri, a monumental shore of the city. The gardens are situated in the district of Castello, close to the Piazza San Marco, and in between the main venues of La Biennale di Venezia. Every year, these gardens are transformed into an extraordinary sculpture park with pieces of art and architecture displayed in both the Gardens of Levante and Ponente since 2017. These locations had to undergo some renovation work to be open to the public.
Palazzo Michiel
Palazzo Michiel del Brusà is situated on the northern site of the Canal Grande with an entrance from Strada Nuova near the Campo Santi. Apostoli. The building has a unique gothic balcony that dates back to the 15th century. The rooms of the interior are decorated with frescoes from Jacopo Guarana. This location is used as the ECC-Italy headquarters and for conferences, workshops and events.
