Two new art centres are set to open in Venice in early May 2025. The San Marco Art Centre (SMAC) will launch on 9 May on the second floor of the Procuratie in St Mark’s Square, founded by David Hrankovic, Anna Bursaux, and David Gramazio. It will focus on temporary exhibitions spanning art, architecture, fashion, technology, and film, and is funded through admissions and sponsors. Its inaugural shows, timed with the Venice Architecture Biennale, feature architect Harry Seidler and landscape designer Jung Youngsun. Separately, the Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation opens a non-profit venue in the Dorsoduro district on 7 May, with a site-specific installation by Georgian artist Tolia Astakhishvili.
These openings matter because they expand Venice’s cultural infrastructure beyond the Biennale, introducing experimental, non-commercial models that challenge traditional museum practices. SMAC’s rejection of a permanent collection and sales, alongside the Fiorucci Foundation’s focus on multisensory and radical ideas, signals a shift toward more flexible, collaborative spaces in a city already saturated with art events. Their success could influence how temporary art hubs are funded and programmed globally.