Murano Glass Toys, an initiative conceived with theaim of promoting the regional brandVetro Artistico® Murano, is an ambitious project,characterized by an innovative setting: no longer a glass exhibition to "look at but not touch", buta real interactive and multimedia installation, a room where the visitor can play and be amazed.The project involves fourteen Murano glass masters from as many concessionary companies oftheVetro Artistico® Murano brand who have put themselves to the test for the occasion,addressing a theme far from their usual production. InMurano Glass Toys, glass lives, moves andinteracts with the viewer: in this magical atmosphere, visitors can experience or relive theemotions related to their childhood and youth.As usual, there will be events designed for specialists in the sector: theIstituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti presents the ninth edition of theStudy Days on Venetian Glass, one ofthe most important annual events for international glass scholars, from 8th to 10th September2021 at Palazzo Franchetti. The event, reserved for people who have enrolled on the course, willinvolvethirty glass experts from all over Europe and the United States, including museumconservators, scholars, collectors, restorers, glass artists.

The three-day programme includesseminars, lectures, visits and practical demonstrations of ancient techniques, with documentsand sessions with scholars.THE PRIZES9th September 2021, in the heart of the glass week, will be a special day because it will see theawarding ceremony of three important prizes in the context of the ffth edition of the festival.Palazzo Franchetti will host the award ceremony for the winners of the ninth edition of theprestigious Glass in Venice Prize, organized by the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti andthe Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia: the recognition is given to artists and glass masters whohave particularly distinguished themselves with their work, working in the great Murano tradition,or, elsewhere in the world, with diferent schools and techniques. This year's winners are theartistsFederica Marangoni, with the awarding of the Lifetime Achievement Award, andMauroBonaventura. From 4th to 12th September works by the winners will be exhibited in theatmospheric setting of the atrium of Palazzo Loredan, amongst the marble efgies of thePanteonVeneto which brings together the busts of illustrious fgures who were either born or lived inVenice.New for 2021 is the institution of the frstFondazione di Venezia Prize for The Venice GlassWeek, which will be awarded to the best project in the festival. All participants inThe VeniceGlass Week 2021 will automatically be considered as candidates for the prize, which will beawarded thanks to the support of the Fondazione di Venezia.

The winner will receive a cash prizeof € 1,000.00 and, at the discretion of the Jury - composed of the curator Jean Blanchaert, theChancellor of the Istituto Veneto Giovanna Palandri and the General Councillor of the Fondazionedi Venezia Paola Marini – a special mention may be given to a maximum of two other originalprojects.Meanwhile, the Italian and international artists and designers under the age of 35 exhibiting in theHUB under35 will be considered as candidates for the second edition of theAutonomaResidency Prize, promoted by LagunaB through the Autonoma project, in association with therenowned American Pilchuck Glass School: a prize which will enable the winner to undertake atwo-month residency at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle (USA) in 2022.