#TheMagicOfGlass: The Venice Glass Week unveils the winners of its ninth edition

The Award Ceremony of the ninth edition of The Venice Glass Week took place yesterday at Palazzo Franchetti, home of the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti. It was one of the most significant moments of the Festival, during which important prizes were presented to several of the talented participants of #TheMagicOfGlass.

The Premio Fondazione di Venezia per The Venice Glass Week,  involving a prize of  €1,000 and now in its fifth edition, was awarded to Giorgio Mastinu for the exhibition Ronan Bouroullec. Inchiostri, realised in collaboration with Simone Cenedese. The Jury  – composed of Jean Blanchaert, Giovanna Palandri and Paola Marini – also gave two special mentions: to Marignana Arte for the exhibition Calcedonia. Paste Vitree Muranesi,  in collaboration with Giulio Malinverni and Francesca Vacca, and to Antonio Dei Rossi and Luca Giannola, in collaboration with Fondazione Venezia per la persona – Gioielli Nascosti di Venezia – IPAV for the exhibition Ove V’è Vetro. Murrinedesign – Antonio Dei Rossi. Ri Frazioni – Luca Giannola at Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, as well as a Special Recognition to Matteo Silverio, architect and curator of the exhibition Vero Casanova at the Murano Glass Museum.

A major highlight this year was the introduction of two new prizes dedicated to the artists who exhibited in the Festival’s two HUBs. The Premio The Studio – Corning Museum of Glass per The Venice Glass Week HUB Under35  was awarded to Florian van Dalen for the work Wave. The artist will have the unique opportunity to attend a summer course in 2026 at The Studio of the prestigious Corning Museum of Glass in New York. The Premio Arterìa per The Venice Glass Week HUB, promoted by Arterìa and involving a prize of €1,000, was awarded to Clare Belfrage for the work In the Glow of Green, Collection. The Jury also decided to give two Special Mentions, to Yoav Reches for Diffuse #2 & Diffuse #3 and to Lukas Novac for Pretty Mirage.

The Ceremony also hosted the official presentation of the new Committee for Glass Scholarships, an important international  initiative that brings together institutions, universities and foundations to support research, education, and innovation in the world of glass. The Committee, set up by the Corning Museum of Glass (New York), Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Pentagram Stiftung, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Università Iuav di Venezia, and Laguna~B, was established with the aim of fostering and promoting new opportunities for students, researchers, designers, artists, and professionals committed to working with glass.