Venice, the palace with Banksy's work will become an exhibition center

Banksy ’s work in Venice, The Migrant Child, finds a buyer. The building on which the mural is located, the 17th-century Palazzo San Pantalon, has in fact been purchased by Banca Ifis, which intends to further promote its leading role in the cultural and artistic enhancement of the lagoon city with the acquisition of the building located in Campo Santa Croce 1, in the Sestriere di Santa Croce.

Banksy’s work made its appearance on the facade of Palazzo San Pantalon on the night of May 8-9, 2019, during the Venice Biennale, becoming one of the rare works recognized by the artist in Italy. The painting, which depicts a child in a life jacket emerging from the water of the Venetian canals, with his right arm outstretched upward and a plant from which a pink smoke rises, has aroused a strong emotional impact and represents a visceral denunciation of the tragedies related to migration in the Mediterranean. Despite its evocative power, five years after its creation, The Migrant Child is in danger of deterioration due to exposure to the elements. A possible restoration has long been discussed, and the purchase of the palace by Banca Ifis seems to be the prelude to intervention.

Palazzo San Pantalon, dating back to the 17th century, is an important building that spans two floors, with an interior area of about 400 square meters. In addition to housing the Venetian headquarters of Banca Ifis, the palace will be the subject of an ambitious restoration and enhancement project. The goal is to transform this magnificent building into a new exhibition space, open to the public, dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art. This project will not only help to preserve and enhance the artistic heritage of Venice, but will also represent an important meeting point for established artists and young emerging talents.

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“We are pleased to announce the purchase of Palazzo San Pantalon, which following restoration work, and securing, will be returned to Venice to enrich its already extraordinary artistic heritage,” says Ernesto Fürstenberg Fassio, president of Banca Ifis. “The initiative was born in October 2023 when we accepted the appeal of Undersecretary for Culture Vittorio Sgarbi for a virtuous collaboration between the public and private sectors to secure Banksy’s painting. In its obvious uniqueness, the work-manifesto imposes a moral evaluation on the issues of immigration, Universal Human Rights, and security guarantees; evoking, as a warning, hope and peace. Banksy imposes a reflection on the concept of Humanism, in relation to the responsibility of an evolved, and never indifferent, society. For this reason, Banca Ifis wants to start as soon as possible the restoration of the property to give it back to Venice in a new guise, in which young street art artists will be able to exhibit their ideas and works of art. So I want to thank the Ministry of Culture and the Superintendence for their support on this path.”

Banca Ifis’ initiative is part of its commitment to promoting culture and art, as also demonstrated by its Social Impact Lab Kaleidos, a laboratory dedicated to social innovation and sustainability. Indeed, Banca Ifis’ commitment to the protection and promotion of art and culture is one of the hallmarks of its corporate philosophy, embodied through the many initiatives of its Social Impact Lab, Kaleidos. The latter focuses on three fundamental pillars: inclusive communities, culture and territory, and people’s well-being.

For three years now, Banca Ifis has also been committed, as anticipated, to supporting the Venice Biennale, taking on the role of sponsor of the Italian Pavilion. In this context, the banking institution also promotes food for thought through the Public Program, thus expanding dialogue and interaction with the public. In addition, Banca Ifis recently inaugurated the International Sculpture Park, a project that not only acts as the custodian of a corporate collection, but also stands out for its strong social and cultural commitment. This Park, which will soon be open to the public, offers an immersive experience in an atmosphere of art and nature, bringing works by renowned masters of contemporary art into dialogue with the landscape of Villa Fürstenberg, the historic headquarters of Banca Ifis. One of the Park’s main attractions is Nico Vascellari’s permanent exhibition entitled Horse Power.

Also in the area of culture and territory, Banca Ifis is actively engaged in the educational project Your Future You, promoted in collaboration with 21 Gallery. This project aims to provide young Italian high school students with a space for personal growth and exploration of their potential through art and coaching. In addition, Banca Ifis has decided to support the 2023 edition of Roma Arte in Nuvola.

But Banca Ifis’ commitment is not limited only to the promotion of contemporary art. Through the Economy of Beauty platform, the banking institution aims to enhance the rich heritage of beauty that characterizes Italy, not only in terms of nature and landscape, but also through industry and entrepreneurship. In this context, Banca Ifis supports Italian SMEs, offering them targeted products and services to foster the growth and development of the sector.

Venice, the palace with Banksy's work will become an exhibition center

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