Sustainability
The Fondazione Giorgio Cini’s commitment to the principles of Planet, People, Peace, Partnerships, and Prosperity commenced twenty years ago, with the implementation of interventions and actions designed to make its spaces increasingly open and accessible to the public. Today, the activities aligned with the objectives of the United Nations 2030 Agenda are expanding and evolving into individual actions that prioritise environmental and social responsibility.
In 2023, the Fondazione Giorgio Cini established a green team to report on, monitor, advise, and promote responsible practices within a strategic framework with short, medium, and long-term goals. The working group coordinates staff training initiatives, identifies measures to enhance accessibility and mobility, fosters a culture of sustainability, supports digitisation and communication efforts, seeks external supporters and funding from both public and private sectors, and prepares reports to disseminate progress on various projects.
The Fondazione Giorgio Cini is one of the thirteen founding members of Venice World Sustainability Capital, an organisation established in March 2023 to rethink the future and urban development of Venice through a sustainable lens.
One of the tactile maps in the Foundation’s park, part of the PNRR NextGenerationUE project. © Fondazione Giorgio Cini
AQUA GRANDA
This video chronicles the journey undertaken at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini following the devastating disaster of Aqua Granda on the night of 12 November 2019, up to the present day, highlighting the restoration efforts undertaken to safeguard the heritage on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Welcoming, Inclusive, and Sustainable Management
At the end of 2022, the Foundation secured (ranking first) funding for the project Removal of Physical and Cognitive Barriers in Museums, Libraries, and Archives to Enable Wider Access and Participation in Culture in Museums and Private Cultural Venues under the EU NextGenerationEU framework, within PNRR Mission 1 – Digitisation, Innovation, Competitiveness, and Culture, Component 3 – Culture 4.0 (M1C3), Measure 1 ‘Cultural Heritage for the Next Generation’ Investment 1.2. This funding has facilitated the design and implementation of various initiatives aimed at improving accessibility.
The actions undertaken focus on enhancing the overall accessibility of the Foundation, addressing several aspects including physical accessibility — by improving the pathways in the park, installing new ramps, and updating signage — along with cognitive accessibility, through the design of on-site visit support, such as the provision of LIS translations, Braille texts, and tactile maps. Information technology accessibility has been bolstered through the creation of a new section on the Foundation’s website. Audiovisual aids for diverse audiences are available via this link.
Additionally, the funding has enabled the expansion of Wi-Fi, the development of a web app, the awarding of scholarships, the organisation of workshops and conferences, and the implementation of training courses for the Fondazione Giorgio Cini staff on accessibility issues. The Foundation has also entered into a two-year partnership with the ENS and the UIC to organise dedicated guided tours.
The Fondazione Giorgio Cini has endeavoured to reduce obstacles, inequalities, and gaps that limit the participation of individuals in cultural life and heritage through the project Accessibility to the Wood of the Island of San Giorgio in Venice, seat of the Foundation, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU under the framework of the PNRR, Mission 1 – Digitalisation, Innovation, Competitiveness and Culture, Component 3 – Culture 4.0 (M1C3).
Between 2023 and early 2024, with the support of Investment 1.2 Removing Physical and Cognitive Barriers in Museums, Libraries, and Archives to Enable Wider Access to and Participation in Culture in Private Museums and Cultural Venues, numerous initiatives were undertaken and successfully completed to ensure greater freedom of access to the island’s spaces, particularly its green areas, both remotely and on-site.
The project also provided an opportunity for training and knowledge-sharing through courses, workshops, and collaborations with universities. The Foundation remains committed to expanding accessibility for diverse audiences and has entered into agreements with the Ente Nazionale Sordi (National Board for the Deaf) and the Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti (Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired) for the 2025-2026 period to organise various activities and dedicated tours.
The Island of San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the largest green spaces in the historic centre of Venice. It encompasses the Borges Labyrinth and a 4-hectare park, home to approximately 700 trees from 32 different species, as well as 400 shrubs.
Over the years, the management and maintenance of the wood have progressively focused on enhancing both the perceptual and physical accessibility of its green areas, thereby enabling visitors to enjoy ever-expanding sections of the historic wood, which was previously closed to the public. These initiatives include the expansion and digital monitoring of the irrigation system, the establishment of a composting area to eliminate the need for disposing of foliage and branches, which are instead transformed into humus and reused within the park itself.
At the Teatro Verde, all the hedges in the cavea were restored, with the old sprinkler irrigation system being replaced by a new drip-irrigation system, significantly reducing water consumption. This restoration, along with the cleaning of the stonework, has made the Teatro Verde accessible to guided tours.
The Wood of the Chapels occupies a section of the island, created during the restorations of the 1950s, using materials salvaged from demolitions and earthworks.
In 2018, the wood was selected to host the Vatican’s first pavilion at the Architecture Biennale: ten chapels, inspired by Gunnar Asplund’s iconic Chapel of the Woods, built in 1920 in the Stockholm cemetery. These chapels were designed by ten international architects, employing distinctive materials and technical solutions. Originally conceived as temporary structures, the chapels have since been made permanent. Given their unique architectural and cultural significance, they have been subject to preservation restrictions by the ‘Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio’ (Department of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape) for the Municipality of Venice and the Lagoon.
In 2015, the Foundation restored the historic squero, converting it into an auditorium with 200 seats and an exceptional view of the Lagoon. The restoration included the installation of insulated interior walls and an upgraded roof, enhanced acoustically with wooden structures and thermally. In early 2023, the old boiler that serviced the squero was replaced with a high-efficiency heat pump system, improving climate control and reducing energy consumption.
The Foundation offers its facilities free of charge to organisations and associations working in the field of supporting individuals with disabilities, for the organisation of events, meetings, and performances.
ARCHiVe – Analysis and Recording of Cultural Heritage in Venice, the centre dedicated to the digitisation of documents, manuscripts, scores, drawings, photographs, rare books, letters, and other materials, was established in 2018 to ensure a consultable digital copy of the most precious and delicate materials, accessible remotely. This initiative makes these materials more accessible while minimising the need to handle the originals, which are thus preserved in optimal conditions and subjected to less wear (such as light, temperature fluctuations, handling, dust, and pollutants).
Between 2014 and 2015, the Foundation carried out extensive renovations of the rooms in the Palazzo Cini, which serves as both a house-museum and exhibition space. This included the installation of state-of-the-art LED projectors and the replacement of all chandeliers with modern lighting fixtures. The old boiler was also replaced with two new high-efficiency heat pumps, ensuring the Palazzo’s functionality for an extended period, even during the winter months. In 2019, a new lift was installed, fully equipped with features to facilitate access for individuals with mobility impairments.
Social sustainability
Among the objectives outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which seeks to enhance both environmental and social well-being, gender equality ranks fifth. According to the Global Gender Gap Index 2023, no country has yet achieved full gender equality. Iceland ranks first, followed by Norway and Finland, while Afghanistan is at the bottom of the list. Italy is ranked 79th out of 146 countries, trailing behind Georgia, Kenya, and Uganda.
In recent years, the Fondazione Giorgio Cini has undertaken a commitment to inclusion, with a particular focus on addressing the Gender Gap in the following areas:
– Culture and Strategy
– Governance
– Human Resources Processes
– Opportunities for the Growth and Inclusion of Women
– Gender Pay Equity
– Parental Protection and Work-Life Balance
Significant efforts have also been made to enhance the safety conditions of the buildings and outdoor areas. In 2013, a fire prevention certificate was obtained for the entire monumental complex, consolidating previously separate areas that required individual permits. In subsequent years, this certification was extended to all the buildings on the island, with improvements made to the infrastructure, staff training, maintenance, periodic inspections, and the number of personnel assigned to prevention, protection services, and first aid duties. Furthermore, workers have been trained in the use of the defibrillator, which was purchased in 2016 and is now available to all individuals working or visiting the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore in any capacity. In 2023, as part of the PEBA project, specific training was provided in communication and emergency assistance for individuals with hearing impairments.
During the course of the island’s renovations, the Foundation has made significant improvements to accessibility for individuals with reduced mobility, visual impairments, or other disabilities. Notable enhancements include the installation of standard accessible bathrooms in the new library, residence, Squero, Napoleonic wing, Sala Arazzi, former swimming pool, Convitto, and other areas. Lifts were either improved or newly installed to provide access to the upper floors. Additional measures such as new ramps, improved visibility of steps, newly fitted handrails, and numerous other upgrades were also implemented.
In 2009, the Manica Lunga Library was expanded to accommodate a greater number of scholars and researchers, with additional stations for catalogue consultation. The volumes were placed on open shelves, and the reference, document delivery, and on-site reproduction services were significantly expanded and enhanced. Furthermore, opening hours were extended until 5 p.m. The library is equipped with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and LED lighting.
Since 2010, university students, PhD candidates, post-doctoral researchers, professors, writers, and artists of all ages, who wish to undertake a period of study in Venice, have had the opportunity to organise research residencies on the Island of San Giorgio. They are able to live on the island and work within the Fondazione Giorgio Cini and the city’s libraries, through the Vittore Branca International Centre for the Study of Italian Culture. This residential humanities centre hosts research projects focused on Italian civilisation, encompassing art, history, literature, music, theatre, and ancient books.
In 2010, the former mechanical workshops were restored and converted into accommodation for scholars, enabling researchers, students, and professors to reside on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore for extended periods at affordable rates, while conducting research on the vast cultural heritage held by the Fondazione Giorgio Cini. The residence is equipped with several accessible rooms, two lifts, double-glazed windows with high thermal efficiency, centralised air conditioning, and a domotic system for room management, all designed to optimise energy consumption and reduce waste.
Since January 2018, the monumental area, the Borges Labyrinth, the Vatican Chapels, and the Green Theatre have been open to visitors daily at various times, facilitated by an audio guide system in collaboration with D’Uva. The use of audio guides is designed to enhance the artistic, architectural, and environmental heritage for a diverse audience. Additionally, special visits for Cini Ambassadors are organised, offering the opportunity for visitors to explore certain collections, which, due to conservation concerns, are not always accessible, with the guidance of sector specialists.
In 2018, a refreshment area was established on the island, with a seating capacity of approximately 90, through the restoration and expansion of the café that had originally opened around ten years earlier. It is now possible to pause for lunch on the island during visits to exhibitions, the park, or other areas of the Foundation, or while engaging in study sessions in the libraries, or simply to enjoy the beauty of the location without the need to leave the island for a meal.
The Fondazione Giorgio Cini is committed to advancing the objectives outlined in the 2030 Agenda, actively monitoring the design, construction, and disposal of event setups, and more broadly, ensuring that all hosted events align with the 17 goals set forth in the UN document. The Foundation also works to raise awareness among organisers, encouraging adherence to these principles from the outset. The Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, home to the Foundation, is easily accessible via public transport, making it a sustainable venue. The Foundation also implements a policy of reusing exhibition and conference setups, whether hosted or organised by its Institutes, to minimise waste and ensure materials are disposed of in a circular manner.
To optimise energy consumption during events, a rationalisation plan is in place, strictly limiting energy use to the actual duration of the events. In an effort to reduce plastic waste, the Foundation has equipped itself with glass carafes, compostable cups, and coffee mugs for its internal events. Furthermore, the suppliers selected and accredited by the Foundation for catering, audio, video, lighting, and furniture services are all locally sourced. This not only reduces mobility but also helps lower CO2 emissions. Additionally, the caterers prioritise the use of local, traditional products.
The commitment to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda is reflected in a series of daily good practices adopted by the employees and collaborators of the Foundation. These are small actions of considerable ethical value, including:
– Implementing more conscientious waste separation in each office
– Promoting awareness of the economical use of paper
– Establishing a circular system for paper usage
– Purchasing FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper
– Regulating air conditioning and heating to responsible temperatures
– Encouraging a frugal approach to lighting and the use of electronic devices
– Using personal mugs instead of disposable cups at coffee machines
– Promoting the use of personal water bottles
– Opting for environmentally friendly shipping services with couriers
– Encouraging colleagues to adopt good practices in their homes as well
– Deleting unnecessary emails
