Scholarships

Scholarships

• Venice 2026

  The Place of Wonders Foundation proudly deepens its commitment to Venice with six new scholarships dedicated to two of the lagoon’s most iconic traditional arts.

  The Foundation will fully fund four scholarships for the Course in Creation and Use of Venetian Glass Beads — the third edition of this hands-on training led by Alessia Fuga and Marisa Convento and two scholarships for the Art of Lace of the Island of Burano with Atelier Martina Vidal in its second edition. These initiatives represent a meaningful investment in the city and its young adults, reflecting the Foundation’s belief in the transformative power of education and cultural heritage.

  This programme is a gesture of love and responsibility carried by the master artisans who generously share their knowledge and time, nurturing a new generation of craftmakers. The 6 students embark on an intensive journey of study and practice, and from today they become ambassadors of Venetian artistic craftsmanship, carrying forward skills, stories, and identity that are vital to the city’s cultural fabric.

  

• Florence 2025

  The Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of two new scholarships, enabling two young students to begin their first year of training at the prestigious Le Arti Orafe (LAO) Jewellery School in Florence.

  At the same time, support continues for the three winners of the previous editions, now ready to attend the third and final year of their program. Each year, however, the work of the scholarship recipients is carefully evaluated by the Foundation and the school: renewal is not automatic, but is granted only to those who demonstrate commitment, growth, and the quality required to continue their studies. These initiatives are part of the collaboration between the Foundation and LAO, now in its fourth consecutive year. Founded in 1985 by Giò Carbone, LAO is the first Italian school dedicated exclusively to contemporary jewellery. Its innovative approach and openness to new ideas have made it an international reference point, attracting talents from all over the world. By renewing this commitment, the Foundation reaffirms its mission to reward talent, support deserving young people, and promote Italian artisanal excellence, creating real opportunities for the next generation.

  

• Venice 2025

  The Place of Wonders Foundation is proud to launch a new training program dedicated to the art of mosaic-making, made possible with the support of Casarialto.

  The scholarship offers an intensive three-month program on the island of Murano, working closely with Michela Nardin, Master of Applied Arts and an expert restorer specializing in glass paste mosaics. The course offers a hands-on atelier experience and the opportunity to develop an individual artistic project under Michela's guidance. Casarialto, a renowned brand from the Veneto region with deep roots in artistic glassmaking, supports the project as an act of modern-day patronage, aiming to preserve and pass on the area's artisanal heritage. With the support of Londra Palace Venezia, the Foundation has launched a program that reaffirms its commitment to nurturing traditional craftsmanship, fostering generational exchange, and helping to safeguard Venice’s living cultural legacy. 

  

• Umbria 2025

  The Place of Wonders Foundation E.T.S. is delighted to announce the 'Passaggio del Saper fare' project, in collaboration with the Giuditta Brozzetti atelier.

  This course will be conducted by the master artisan Marta Cucchia and will focus on the creation of Perugian tablecloths and other decorative textiles using ancient looms from the 18th and 19th centuries. These sessions will be held in the enchanting surroundings of the Church of San Francesco delle Donne in Perugia. The project includes funding from the foundation to cover the professional training costs for the members of the atelier, thus ensuring the continuation of these invaluable skills. The Foundation's commitment through this initiative underscores its dedication to revitalizing and supporting Umbria's rich textile heritage, ensuring that these traditional skills are not only preserved but celebrated and passed on to future generations.

  

• Venice 2025

  The Foundation is thrilled to announce the launch of the second edition of the 'Mano a Mano' project, dedicated to the enhancement of Venice's artisanal arts.

  The 240-hour course on glass beads, led by master artisans Alessia Fuga and Marisa Convento, has awarded four scholarships to young Venetian talents. Similarly, the 180-hour lace art course, by Atelier Martina Vidal, has bestowed two scholarships upon promising lace makers, aiming for their future integration into the atelier. The Foundation fully subsidizes both courses, thus ensuring barrier-free access to this invaluable training. This initiative reinforces our mission at the Foundation to safeguard and revitalize Venice’s historic crafts, keeping the city’s rich cultural tapestry vibrant for future generations.

  

• Florence 2024

  For the third consecutive year, the fruitful collaboration with the visionary partner LAO is renewed. We are pleased to announce the awarding of six scholarships, offering young talents the opportunity to delve deeper into this artisanal mastery.

  The three students who won in previous editions continue their studies with dedication, further strengthening the skills they have acquired. Meanwhile, three new scholarships have been awarded to young students from the region, ready to embark on this new adventure.

  

• Venice 2024

  The foundation is delighted to announce the formation of four brand-new scholarships in Venice in partnership with glass bead artisan and glassmaker Alessia Fuga and jeweler Marisa Convento.

  The foundation will fully fund four ‘Mano a Mano’ apprenticeships for Italian students to learn this unique and traditional Venetian craft under Fuga and Convento’s expert tutelage at their Murano workshops. During their apprenticeship, these students will have the opportunity to create their own limited edition piece to be included in the capsule Mano a Mano Collection showcased at the Londra Palace. We are thrilled to be contributing to the preservation of this ancient practice and the passing of knowledge on to the next generation!

  

• Florence 2023

  After an incredibly successful first year of collaboration between The Place of Wonders Foundation and LAO, we’re thrilled to announce this impactful partnership will continue.

  The foundation will grant a further three full scholarships to three young female Italian students from Florence and nearby Pistoia. Two students will learn the art of jewelry design or oreficeria triennale, while the others will study the craft of stone setting or incassatura. To know that we are playing our part to safeguard the future of Italian craft is hugely gratifying.

  

• Florence 2022

  The foundation was delighted to partner with the goldsmith school Le Arti Orafe di Firenze, founded in 1985 by visionary goldsmith and founder of Florence Jewelry Week, Giò Carbone, for its first year.

  LAO is the first Italian school dedicated solely to contemporary jewelry, and its open-minded attitude toward new ideas, innovations, and technical skills attracts top talent from around the world. The Place of Wonders proudly funded three full scholarships for Italian students, with a generous 50% contribution from LAO, at this world-renowned school in 2022.