On the occasion of Carnival 2022, the City of Venice proposes a series of initiatives that will take place throughout the municipal area, according to the pandemic situation and the relative legislation of reference, in compliance with national and local guidelines related to the activities of a diffused schedule that involves the ancient city, the Venetian mainland, and the islands of the lagoon.
The Carnival 2022 will be a multidimensional event, in which the physicality of attending the traditional event in person is integrated with the virtual, utilising technology to involve all the public in the Carnival, including those who wish to participate remotely, from all around the world.
It is a “work in progress” edition, the result of a joint effort made together with the competent authorities in order to offer a safe Carnival. Special thanks go to the Prefecture of Venice for the coordination of the law enforcement agencies and to the health authorities for their continuous constructive support in planning the event.
In this pandemic context, some of the traditional events that historically generate gatherings will not take place. In particular:
• The “Venetian festival” in Rio di Cannaregio canal on Saturday evening and the water parade in the Grand Canal on Sunday morning;
• The big animated stages of Piazza San Marco and Piazza Ferretto;
• The procession of the Marias and the parade of the Bull;
• The flight of the Angel, the flight of the Eagle, and the flight of the Lion;
• The allegorical parades in Lido, Marghera, Campalto, Zelarino, Pellestrina, and Burano.
The theme
The 2022 edition will be held from Saturday February 12 to Tuesday March 1 under the Artistic Direction of Massimo Checchetto, set designer of the Teatro La Fenice.
“Remember the Future” is the title chosen for this edition, and is inspired by a quote from Salvador Dalì: And most of all I remember the future.
“Walking through Venice, even with a specific destination, one is forced to constantly change direction, the alley ends in a turning; behind one turning point a surprise, often a marvel, almost always a future. For the theme of this year’s Venice Carnival, I thought about our future, the future that this city full of the past unleashes in those who live it. It is, truly, a place in constant contradiction, where dreams and reality merge”– declares Massimo Checchetto.
The Carnival is a surreal game, beyond logic. Remembering the future seems like a paradox, but this responds precisely to the most authentic spirit of the Carnival: a subversion of meaning that allows you to ‘open up’ the mind and open up possible unexpected scenarios. An introspective and creative journey that everyone can undertake to discover the most hidden desires and the most secret aspects of their own personality. With the freedom of anonymity, because today, behind one mask, another mask is hidden.
The Venice Carnival becomes, therefore, an extraordinary opportunity for research and revelation that is mirrored in the intricate fabric of its urban structure. Calli and campielli, bridges and canals, sotoporteghi and fondamenta, as well as arcades and squares, all impose a continuous change of pace, continuous rethinking and hesitations that, however, lead to surprising results.
New visions that deviate from everyday life and transport you to a dimension projected into a fantastic future. A journey, a set of ideas for embracing the dream of beauty.
“We strongly wanted to do this Carnival, to send a message of hope especially to children – declares the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro – It will be a spread out Carnival, with many spectacles and situations that will take place in the many areas of the City, in addition to events and competitions in streaming, that will accompany young and old in these days of celebration. Thanks to all those who are working on organising the event. Happy Carnival to everyone!”.
The Venice Carnival 2022 in a nutshell
VENEZIA WONDER TIME!
Extraordinariness and Diffuse Art for the City
It is time to rediscover the amazement and emotion of the Carnival in the squares and in the streets, with the visionary creativity of artists who renew the future with the emotion of street art.
During the weekends of the Carnival, on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13, and Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 February, and on the days of the “fat” week, from Thursday February 24 to Tuesday March 1, a programme of diffused resident performances of music, circus-theatre, puppetry, acrobatics, and clowning will be staged.
Programme
On Saturdays and Sundays and on Shrove Monday and Tuesday, the shows will be staged with reruns from 11.00 to 1.00 pm and from 3.00 to 7.00 pm. On other days, shows will run in the afternoon from 3.00 to 7.00 pm.
Show locations
Venice Ancient City:
Campo Santa Margherita, Campo San Giacomo, Esedra-Castello, Campo San Geremia, Campo San Cassiano, Campo dei Gesuiti, Campo Santa Maria Formosa, and Sant’Elena.
Mestre:
Piazza Ferretto, Largo Divisione Julia, Piazzale Donatori di Sangue, via Mestrina, via Palazzo.
Mainland:
Marghera (Piazza Mercato), Zelarino (Piazzale Maria Immacolata), Favaro (Piazza Municipio), Chirignago (Piazza San Giorgio), Campalto (Piazzale San Benedetto), Tessera (Piazzale Santa Maria Assunta).
Islands:
Lido di Venezia (Piazzetta Lepanto), Pellestrina (Piazzale Zendrini and San Pietro in Volta), Murano (Campo Santo Stefano), and Burano (Piazza Galuppi).
The performances are open access. It is necessary to maintain social distancing and to wear face masks correctly. The presence of personnel responsible for the observation and protection of the public is envisaged: the activity may be suspended in the event that conditions for safe performance are absent.
REMEMBER THE FUTURE
Nebula Solaris
The Venetian Water Festival moves to the Arsenal in an inimitable open-air theatre to celebrate the Venice Carnival 2022 with an extraordinary spectacle on water, an element with which the City has created its most intimate bond.
Opera Fiammae and Viorica give life to a memorable evening of water and fire games amidst the splendid scenery of the Basins of the Venice Arsenal.
A visionary artistic collaboration of live performance and technology, which gives life to a parade with a strong visual impact on the water space of the basins of the Arsenal: a dreamlike narration with the elements of air, earth, water, and fire creates imaginative visions of submerged worlds and future civilisations.
A show by Opera Fiammae
Water Show by Viorica
Video design by Antica Proietteria
Directed by Anton Bonura
Shows on Friday 18, Saturday 19, and Sunday 20 February and from Thursday 24 February to Tuesday 1 March, with two daily performances at 6:45 pm and 9:15 pm.
Shows are for a limited attendance, with ticket reservation required, and possession of an EU digital Covid-19 certificate mandatory, following current regulations.
All information can be found on the website www.carnevale.venezia.it and on the Carnival social networks.
PLAY WITH THE LION
Virtual competition of the most beautiful masked costume in Piazza San Marco
In St. Mark’s Square, a scenographic installation is envisaged (without any show activities) aimed at appreciating those who traditionally parade in St. Mark’s Square in carnival costume.
The set will become a catwalk for those in costume who want to parade and participate in the Contest for the most beautiful Masked Costume, or simply to get a photo in front of the symbols that encapsulate the spirit of the Venice Carnival.
The parade can be joined on accreditation (online or onsite subject to availability) from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm from Saturday February 19 to Tuesday March 1. The photos of the masked costumes will be published and voted for online, and the winners will be announced online at the end of each day and at the end of the Carnival. The official hashtag will be #CarnevaleVenezia2022.
All information can be found on the website www.carnevale.venezia.it and on the Carnival social networks.
PLAY THE MASK!
The most beautiful masked costume in Piazza Ferretto
The customary parade of the most beautiful masked costume transforms for this edition into a colourful and fun open air parade in front of a scenographic setting in Piazza Ferretto, where children and adults without age limits can have a photo taken and participate in an online competition, or simply receive the photo and keep it as a souvenir.
To participate, just register online or directly in Piazza Ferretto. All information can be found on the website www.carnevale.venezia.it and on the Carnival social netwroks.
The Photobooth in Piazza Ferretto for the most beautiful masked costume will be active on Saturdays and Sundays and on Shrove Monday and Tuesday from 11.00 to 1.00 pm and from 3.00 to 7.00 pm. On Thursday February 24 and Friday 25 shows will run only in the afternoon from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm.
Carnival of Culture
THE CARNIVAL OF CULTURE
The future is here and now
Art and theatre return to celebrate the Carnival with a programme of spectacles in the cultural spaces of the city, continuing the proven experience of the Carnival of Culture.
The programme provides for a rich schedule of cultural initiatives at theatres and museums, notably: Auditorium Santa Margherita, Ateneo Veneto, M9 Auditorium, Candiani Cultural Center, Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art, Teatro Aurora, Teatro a l’Avogaria, Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, and Palazzo Grimani.
Extraordinary evening openings of the Civic Museums of Venice
On the occasion of the Carnival, the museums of the Marciana Area and the Museum of Eighteenth Century Venice have an extraordinary evening opening until 10:00 pm every day from Friday February 18 to Tuesday March 1: Doge’s Palace, the Museo Correr, Ca’ Rezzonico, the Palazzo Mocenigo, and the House of Carlo Goldoni.
Info and reservations at www.visitmuve.it
Carnival Official Dinner Show
VENEZIA IMAGINARIUM
Wonders rediscovered in the future memory of a glorious past with Venezia Imaginarium, the title of the show created by Antonia Sautter for this occasion, a magical trove that is brought as a gift to the guests of Ca’ Vendramin. A gem as precious as the rooms that host it and which will come alive with surprises and colours, populated by doges and queens, courtesans and acrobats, burlesque numbers and acting performances.
A spectacle that offers a real immersion into a universe inspired by Venice, and into its 1600-year-long adventure that teaches us that “remembering the future” means learning to dream it, even if it were in a night of pure magic.
An exclusive evening hosted by the eclectic Prince Maurice, where the intertwining of gourmet food curated by the Restaurant Wagner, the intense and refined spectacle by Antonia Sautter, and the elegance of the Venetian palaces will make guests live a unique and unforgettable Carnival experience.
The Dinner Show is scheduled from February 19 – 20 and from February 24 to March 1 at Cà Vendramin Calergi.
The dinner show provides for a limited number of attendees, social distancing, an obligation to possess an EU digital Covid-19 certificate, track and trace, and the static nature of participation.
All information can be found on the website www.carnevale.venezia.it and on the Carnival social networks.
THE FESTIVAL OF THE MARIAS
The traditional contest provides for the preselection of the 12 Marias on Monday February 14 at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista.
Starting from February 19, the twelve Marias will participate in various events of the official Carnival programme.
The final selection will take place on Monday February 28 in the Sale Apollinee of the Teatro La Fenice, with the proclamation of the Maria del Carnevale 2022 and the Maria del Gazzettino, voted for by the readers of the newspaper.
VENICE CARNIVAL ICE EXPERIENCE
Skating rink Campo San Polo (Venice) and Piazza Mercato (Marghera)
The skating rinks of Campo San Polo and of Piazza Mercato (Marghera) will be part of the Venice Carnival initiatives with themed activities.
All information can be found on the website www.carnevale.venezia.it and on the Carnival social networks.
THE CARNIVAL LIVE
Following the success of the digital edition, over the next two weekends of February – on the 12 and 13 and the 19 and 20 – and then every day during the “fat” week, from February 24 to March 1, from 4.30 pm, the master of ceremonies of the Venice Carnival, Prince Maurice (in real life Maurizio Agosti), and the Angel of the Carnival 2020, the actress Linda Pani, will animate the live stream on the social networks from the studio, giving voice to the young reporters who will be sent every day to discover the best of street theatre staged in the various locations of the city within the programme of Venice WonderTime! and of the entire programme of the Venice Carnival 2022.
The live broadcasts will be transmitted on the Facebook page of the Venice Carnival and in the YouTube playlist of Venezia Unica. These links can be accessed directly from the official website of the Venice Carnival: www.carnevale.venezia.it
CARNIVAL OF VENICE ONLINE
WEB AND SOCIAL
www.carnevale.venezia.it: the official website of the Carnival for all the updates of the programme event by event, a blog for delving deeper, countless images, and a digital press room.
Web editing by Vela in collaboration with the Ca’ Foscari University Foundation.
Updates, live feed, and fun facts exclusively available on the official social networks of the Carnival.
#CarnevaleVenezia2022 #RememberTheFuture
