The Future of Murano Glass – Blowers of Tomorrow

The newly published comic book The Future of Murano Glass shines a spotlight on the generational transition of the island’s historic glassmaking tradition, using innovative multimedia content aimed at the younger generation. The goal is to help rediscover the beauty of glass art and to encourage the continuation and preservation of this heritage.

The challenges of a legacy as grand as it is fragile

The glassmaking tradition of Murano is centuries old, with roots dating back to the 13th century. The craft and its secrets were passed down from father to son within the well-known Glassmakers’ Guild, which supported artisans in preserving and transmitting the difficult techniques of the tradition.

In recent years, however, this great historical heritage and its profession appear to be at risk of extinction due to the difficulty of generational turnover. The work is demanding, and the amount of practice required to become a master glassmaker is substantial.

In Venice, there is a school that provides preliminary training, but the opportunity for those who study there to work immediately in the furnaces of the Venetian area is still far off. After their studies, an additional apprenticeship of 10 to 15 years is required to be able to work as master glassmakers. This lengthy training period, combined with the physically demanding nature of the job and the uncertain salary prospects, drives young people to pursue academic paths that offer more immediate job opportunities and greater economic stability.

Thus, this art seems destined to be lost over time if innovative tools are not found to pass on the passion and secrets of this craft to young minds — just as it was done in the past.

A comic book that blends tradition and innovation

Thanks to the innovative idea of the Circolo Ricreativo Culturale Muranese Aps and the civic crowdfunding promoted by the City of Venice, The Future of Murano Glass was created — an interactive comic book aimed specifically at young people, to introduce them to Murano’s glassmaking tradition.

The project is specifically addressed to elementary and middle school students in Murano, Burano, and Sant’Erasmo — three key locations for glass production in Venice. The comic tells the story of Venetian glassmaking through the eyes of a young protagonist who, guided by his grandfather — a retired master glassmaker — discovers a love for the art of glass. As they visit ancient glassworks and the halls of the Murano Glass Museum, grandfather and grandson encounter the figure of Abbot Vincenzo Zanetti, a wise 19th-century priest and great enthusiast of Murano’s history and glassmaking heritage.

The project is innovative and promises to engage new generations through an interactive experience never seen before. Readers are guided through the story of the grandfather and grandson’s journey with the help of multimedia links and QR codes, allowing them to access external sites for further exploration of the themes through videos, interviews, and extra content. The volume, 116 pages in full color, is distributed free of charge to all students to encourage them to consider a specialized course of study in the various sectors of glass production.

The goal of this initiative is to bring younger generations closer to an art as ancient as it is precarious, hoping to spark in them the desire to become part of a unique and excellent Murano tradition.
Encouraging the training of new master glassmakers can certainly help to keep this long-standing artistic heritage alive.

Sandro Smerghetto, Vice President of the Circolo Ricreativo Culturale Muranese, explained that this is precisely one of the project’s objectives: “to attract young workers to the world of glass — not only into the furnaces, but also into other specialties related to glassmaking, […] trying to inspire among young people the desire to become masters or artisans of Murano glass.”
Among those who contributed to the realization of this work were the students of the “Abate Zanetti” High School, heirs of the historic School of Design for Glassmakers founded in 1862 by Abbot Zanetti himself.

The abbot who promoted the art of glassmaking

In the 19th century, Abbot Vincenzo Zanetti played a fundamental role in relaunching the Murano glass market globally. During those years, Venice was experiencing a profound production crisis after the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, and his efforts enabled Venetians to reclaim their historical and artistic identity in glassmaking, restoring the island to its former glory.

The abbot is renowned for founding the Glass Museum, a place for research and study for master glassmakers. He is remembered for the deep passion with which he encouraged artisans to spread their art: he urged them to participate in exhibitions held across Italy and Europe. Thanks to him and his tireless work, the island is now known worldwide for its great tradition in the art of glass.

The contribution of the “Abate Zanetti” Technical Institute

Just as the abbot helped to spread glassmaking culture globally, the Institute bearing his name today shows the same dedication to tradition.
The teachers and students of the “Abate Zanetti” Technical Institute for Graphics and Communication, with a focus on design applied to glass, contributed to the creation of the illustrations for the comic book and its innovative reading experience, designed to convey the culture of Murano glass to younger generations at a local level.

In addition to supporting this project, the Institute is also known for its participation in other initiatives aimed at promoting Venetian glassmaking culture. In 2023 and 2024, it took part in the project Murano Illuminates the World, promoted by The Venice Glass Week and the City of Venice. This project shines a spotlight on Murano glass and brings it to St. Mark’s Square to showcase to the world a tradition that merges innovation and experimentation.

In 2023, the students of class 5A and master glassmaker Eros Raffael designed and created AZ, a chandelier combining the knowledge the students gained over years of studying graphics, design, and glass modeling, with traditional techniques for blown glass elements inspired by the lagoon environment.

In the following 2024 edition, the Institute participated again with a new project, developed by a selected group of students under the guidance of master Raffael. Titled AZ2024, the artwork consists of a series of organic spheres in mirrored and sandblasted crystal, with the addition of decorated spheres recalling the colors of Rezzonico-style chandeliers — majestic works made of glass, typical of true Venetian tradition.

The future of the comic and of Murano’s glassmaking tradition

The past of Murano’s glassmaking tradition is well-known, but its future remains uncertain. The project aims to spread Murano’s artistic heritage to younger generations locally — and beyond.

In fact, there are plans for the comic book to be translated into other languages, and the City has already approved an English version.
During the presentation of the interactive comic at the “Abate Zanetti” Institute, the Councillor for Territorial Promotion, Paola Mar, concluded by saying that what fascinated her most about the project was “its ability to be intergenerational. In a historical moment when communication is increasingly difficult — especially across generations — the Circolo Muranese managed to use a youthful language that is accessible to all, overcoming barriers and building community, to carry forward a project that enhances historical and artistic tradition in a contemporary way.”

The invitation is therefore to share and enhance the uniqueness and beauty of Murano glass — a historical and artistic tradition to be preserved.
To achieve this, passing it down from generation to generation is no longer enough: we must be willing to innovate, creating new opportunities for sharing an art that blends centuries-old techniques with both classical and contemporary design.

Editor and Communication Manager: Serena Andreucci
Content Writer and Translator: Emily Toniolo