Etnia Barcelona to Open Etnia House of Arts in Restored Venice Church

Tuesday, April 14 2026 | 12 h 06 min | News

Etnia Barcelona is preparing to open Etnia House of Arts in Venice in May 2026, marking a new chapter for the restored Chiesa dell’Abbazia della Misericordia in the city’s Cannaregio district.

The project is being presented by Etnia Eyewear Culture, the brand’s cultural platform, as a space dedicated to artistic experimentation, public engagement, and contemporary creativity. According to the company, programming will include exhibitions, performances, artistic interventions, and residencies.

Among the planned initiatives is an international artist residency program centred on an unusual creative starting point: eyewear. Artists will be invited to develop works in dialogue with the architecture of the site, the surrounding city, and the public, allowing visitors to experience not only finished pieces, but also aspects of the creative process itself.

The venue brings together heritage conservation and contemporary cultural use. The former church dates back to 939 and has undergone several architectural transformations over the centuries, including Gothic reconstruction and later façade work attributed to sculptor Clemente Moli. The site was officially closed for worship in 1973 and later adapted for secular purposes.

Etnia says restoration work is currently underway under the direction of architectural studio Anfibio, with oversight from Venice cultural heritage authorities. In addition to the church itself, the broader site will include space for offices and artist residency functions linked to the initiative.

With Etnia House of Arts, the company is extending its presence beyond eyewear into a broader cultural arena, using a landmark Venetian site as a platform for contemporary artistic exchange. The space is scheduled to open to the public in May 2026.