The European Cultural Centre (ECC) is a non-profit organisation headquartered in the Netherlands. It is an international network of cultural platforms and ECC-Satellites committed to promoting culture through international exchanges. We work with associations and partners from around the world, ranging from educational, cultural and governmental institutions to non-governmental organisations as well as museums, foundations and several other private initiatives. 

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

ECC Italy is an italian company owned by the Dutch non profit association European Cultural Centre Worldwide. Focusing on diverse topics within art, architecture and design, we aim to create dynamic exhibition spaces that show the interchanging of ideas from different cultures. Our art exhibitions, Personal Structures, alternate each year with the architecture exhibition Time Space Existence. Our exhibitions draw a range of visitors, from professional architects and artists to locals and tourists. Past exhibitions and virtual tours can be seen on our website ecc-italy.eu. 

Besides the biennial exhibitions, the ECC Italy also organises symposiums, meetings, workshops, educational programs and cultural events. All exhibitions and events are open to all and always free of charge.  

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. In addition, the foundation often also collaborates with several other venues in Venice and beyond.

The ECC Italy curatorial team is composed of a group of people organised into different departments: art, architecture, photography, sculpture, and universities. Each team focuses on assisting potential participants for each field. Nevertheless, all the curatorial 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 staff, please visit the ECC official website: https://ecc-italy.eu/about/team

Personal Structures is a biennial contemporary art exhibition organised and hosted by European Cultural Centre in Venice, Italy. Since its launch in 2011, the exhibition features and combines the artworks of emerging and renown international artists that break away from any ideological, political and geographical barriers. Every edition is accompanied by a main theme 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 the city of Venice, Italy. Until 2016, our organisation served as an official, accredited, collateral part of La Biennale, but since 2017 we made the choice to run during the same time period but independently in order to fulfil our purpose of making the arts and architecture as accessible, open  and available as possible. Through our exhibition we hope to offer a forum for exchange and for a dialogue that is inclusive  of all voices, and transcends all kinds of barriers, such as cultural, political, social, national, religious etc.  In addition, our decision to have a free admission policy to all our exhibitions, promotes an equitable approach to making the arts accessible for everybody. We continue to work closely with La Biennale since every year we host national pavilions and collateral events.

For instance, in the past the ECC has had several collaborations with national pavilions such as the 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 in US.

We are open to receiving project proposals and to discussing with the artists the concept and details. If the work is selected, the ECC Italy team will provide further information and assist you in all the next steps for the realisation of it in line with the next edition of Personal Structures. For additional information and to submit your proposal, please write to Sara Danieli 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 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.

The ECC hosts its exhibitions in traditional Venetian sites (buildings and gardens) and respects the nature of these locations by not altering its inner structure. However, some accessibility adjustments were made in Palazzo Mora, Palazzo Michiel and Palazzo Bembo: in all three locations there is an elevator within the building allowing access to the different floors of the ECC (with exception of the mezzanine of Palazzo Mora). As for Marinaressa Gardens, a stoned path crosses the gardens and is accessible from the main street.

All three venues are located on the island of Venice and are accessible both by foot and by a ferry boat, some with the ferry stop nearer than the other. 

Palazzo Mora | Strada Nova, 3659, 30121 Venezia VE

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

By ferry: The nearest ferry stops are 

–Ca’ D’Oro, located at the Grand Canal. Line 1
–Fondamenta Nuove, located on the lagoon side. Lines 4.1 / 4.2 / 5.1 / 5.2 

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

By foot: Palazzo Michiel is located in Strada Nova and can be reached by 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 in Strada Nova to cross). From Rialto, it is a 10-minute walk and a 15-minute walk from San Marco Square.

By ferry: The nearest ferry stops are 

–Ca’ D’Oro, located at 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

By foot: Palazzo Bembo is located next to Rialto Bridge and can be reached by foot. From 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 charismatic 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

By foot: The Marinaressa Gardens are located on the Riva dei Sette Martiri, the monumental waterfront of the city of Venice, and can be reached by 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

Each venue has cultural mediators present who are at the visitor’s disposal to answer any questions. If you are interested in organising a guided and private tour with one of ECC’s representatives, please send an email to visit@ecc-italy.eu with the subject line “Guided Tour Request”.

The exhibitions organised by the European Cultural Centre will continue to respond to any changing national measures concerning health and safety, and will duly inform all visitors of any necessary requirements. 

Always consult the website www.dgc.gov.it/web for updates on any new measures adopted to contain and manage the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.