European Cultural Centre Italy (ECC Italy), based in Venice, is part of the non-profit association ECC Worldwide, based in the Netherlands. In Venice, we operate within the fields of art, architecture, and design. The organisation strives to create dynamic exhibition spaces that foster the exchange of ideas across cultures. ECC Italy’s core activities include cultural projects, planning exhibitions, publications, videos, and educational programmes. In addition, we restore and care for historic venues, opening them to the public free of charge and sharing art, culture, and beauty with everyone. The contemporary art-focused Personal Structures exhibition alternates each year with the architecture exhibition Time Space Existence.

Past exhibitions can be seen on our websites: personalstructures.com timespaceexistence.com

The main venues of the ECC Italy in the city of Venice are: Palazzo Mora, Palazzo Bembo, Palazzo Michiel and Marinaressa Gardens, which are two public gardens located in the historical centre of the city.

The European Cultural Centre (ECC) is a non-profit association headquartered in the Netherlands, dedicated to fostering cultural and intellectual exchange through exhibitions, cultural projects, publications, video series, and educational programmes worldwide. It collaborates with associations and partners worldwide, including educational, cultural, and governmental institutions, as well as NGOs, museums, foundations, and various private initiatives.

For further information on the European Cultural Centre, please visit the ECC official website: ecc-italy.eu

The ECC Italy organising team is composed of a group of professionals structured into different departments. Each team focuses on assisting potential participants for each field. Nevertheless, all the decisions are discussed and taken together for the successful creation of the overall exhibition. The main organisers for ECC Italy are Sara Danieli as Head of Art, Lucia Pedrana as Head of University Relations, and Rachele De Stefano as Head of Architecture.

For further information on ECC Italy staff, please visit our Websites: personalstructures.com timespaceexistence.com 

Personal Structures is a biennial contemporary art exhibition organised and hosted by the ECC Italy in Venice. Since its launch in 2011, the exhibition has featured and combined the artworks of emerging and renowned international artists who break away from ideological, political, and geographical barriers. A main theme accompanies every edition and welcomes installations and works from participants from all over the world, presenting them to the public in all ECC Italy venues – Palazzo Mora, Palazzo Bembo, and the Marinaressa Gardens – free of charge during the entire opening period. Visitors are welcome to view the exhibition every day of the week between 10.00 and 18.00 in all venues, except on Tuesdays, during which both Palazzo Mora and Palazzo Bembo remain closed, whereas Marinaressa Gardens are always open.

Since 2011, the European Cultural Centre has organised international exhibitions in Venice, Italy. Until 2016, our organisation participated as an official accredited collateral event of La Biennale. Since 2017, however, we have chosen to operate independently while continuing to run during the same period, to further our mission of making art and architecture as accessible, open, and inclusive as possible. Through our exhibitions, we aim to provide a platform for exchange and dialogue that embraces all voices and transcends cultural, political, social, national, and religious barriers. In addition, our free admission policy reflects our commitment to ensuring equal access to the arts for everyone. We continue to collaborate closely with La Biennale and regularly host national pavilions and collateral events.

For instance, in the past, the ECC has had several collaborations with national pavilions such as Mongolia, Philippines, Kuwait, Seychelles, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Kiribati, and Mozambique Pavilions; and organised collateral events, namely the Young Talent Architecture Award (YTAA) presented by the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, From Palestine With Art organised by the Palestine Museum US.

We are open to receiving project proposals and discussing concepts and details directly with the artists. If the work is selected, the ECC Italy team will provide further information and assist you in all the next steps for its realisation in line with the next edition of Personal Structures. For additional information and to submit your proposal, please write to Sara Danieli, Head of Art, at sara@ecc-italy.eu.

In line with our mission of making the arts and architecture as open and available as possible to everyone, the ECC Italy decided not to charge for the entrance to the different venues. Visitors do not have to pay to access the exhibition in any of the locations and there is no need to register for attendance*.

*Exceptions only apply to specific events held at the ECC venues in order to ensure everyone’s safety and to align with local health regulations.

All three venues are located on the island of Venice and are accessible by both foot and ferry.

Palazzo Mora | Strada Nova, 3659, 30121 Venezia VE

On foot: Palazzo Mora is located in Strada Nova and can be reached on foot. From the train station and bus stops in Piazzale Roma, it is a 20-minute walk (please note there are multiple bridges to cross in Strada Nova). It is a 10-minute walk from Rialto and about 15 minutes from San Marco Square.

By ferry: The nearest ferry stops are 

– Ca’ D’Oro, located on the Grand Canal. Line 1

– Fondamenta Nuove, located on the lagoon side. Lines 4.1 / 4.2 / 5.1 / 5.2 

Palazzo Bembo | Riva del Carbon, 4793, 30124 Venezia VE

On foot: Palazzo Bembo is located next to the Rialto Bridge and can be reached on foot. From the Rialto Bridge, it is a 2-minute walk, and from Piazza San Marco, a 10-minute walk. It can also be reached from the train station and bus stops in Piazzale Roma, it is a 25-minute walk with multiple little, charming streets and bridges to cross. 

By ferry: The nearest ferry stops are 

– Rialto, located at the Grand Canal. Lines 1 / 2

Marinaressa Gardens | Riva dei Sette Martiri, 30122 Venezia VE

On foot: The Marinaressa Gardens are located on the Riva dei Sette Martiri, the monumental waterfront of the city of Venice, and can be reached on foot. From San Marco Square, it is a beautiful walk along the canal of approximately 15 minutes, and from Rialto Bridge up to 25 minutes. 

By ferry: The nearest ferry stops are 

– Arsenale, located at the Giudecca Canal. Lines 1 / 4.1 / 4.2

– Giardini, located at the Giudecca Canal. Lines 1 / 4.1 / 4.2 / 5.1 / 5.2 / 6 / 10

Palazzo Michiel | Strada Nova, 4391, 30121 Campo Santi Apostoli, Venezia VE

On foot: Palazzo Michiel is located in Strada Nova and can be reached on foot, and is only 5-minutes away from Palazzo Mora. From the train station and bus stops in Piazzale Roma, it is a walk of approximately 20 minutes (Please note there are multiple bridges to cross in Strada Nova). It is a 10-minute walk from Rialto and about 15 minutes from San Marco Square.

By ferry: The nearest ferry stops are 

– Ca’ D’Oro, located on the Grand Canal. Line 1

– Fondamenta Nuove, located on the lagoon side. Lines 4.1 / 4.2 / 5.1 / 5.2 

Our team is at the visitor’s disposal to answer any questions across all our venues. If you are interested in organising a guided and private tour, please send an email to visit@ecc-italy.eu with the subject line “Guided Tour Request”.

Our exhibitions are hosted in historic venues, and we are committed to making them as accessible as possible. For specific accessibility requirements, including wheelchair access, please don’t hesitate to contact the exhibition venues directly: Palazzo Mora, Palazzo Bembo, and Marinaressa Gardens. We’ll be happy to help you plan your visit.