Venice's cultural heritage in danger: protests against rents and tourism!

Venice's cultural heritage in danger: protests against rents and tourism!

The new exhibition “Venice BeReal” by Stefanie Bürkle, artist and professor at the Technical University of Berlin, will open on March 9, 2025. This show addresses the reproduction of the city symbol of Venice and explores how this cultural symbol is represented worldwide. In particular, it looks at how Venice was copied in contexts such as Las Vegas and Macau. “Venice BeReal” is the result of the artistic research project “Imaginations of Venice” (2022-2025) and includes a comprehensive archive documenting global representations of the city. The centerpiece is a Venice Atlas, an artistic image archive designed as a video installation.

The exhibition, which will be on view from March 1st to 23rd, 2025 at Meinblau, Pfefferberg in Berlin, includes both analogue and digital photographs, video works and interviews on the perception and marketing of Venice. On March 23, 2025, the results of a teaching research project by TU students will also be presented, who have developed multi-dimensional mappings on various topics such as the migration history of the “Ice Cream Parlor Venezia” and the worldwide copies of Venice.

Venice's cultural heritage in tension

Giorgio Orsoni, Mayor of Venice, has repeatedly highlighted the important role of the private sector in preserving historic palazzi. The state fund for monument protection in Venice has been sharply reduced, forcing the city to deal responsibly with its cultural heritage. Orsoni's goal is to make the future use of the heritage open to the public and avoid hotels in culturally valuable areas. This is in line with the demands of scholars who want to revitalize the Fondaco as a cultural center. The building is currently empty and is only used sporadically for advertising.

Many creative people live in Venice, often under precarious conditions. The Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo offers a lively atmosphere with numerous activities. Nevertheless, residents are under pressure. The city's last hospital, the Scuola Grande di San Marco, is being forced to reduce medical services, sparking local protests against the closure of the maternity ward.

Mass tourism and demographic challenges

A central point for Venice is the increasing mass tourism, which is considered the main cause of the dramatic population decline. The city has lost over 120,000 residents since the 1950s, and in the summer of 2022 the number of year-round residents fell below 50,000 for the first time. According to the Ocio Group, the number of tourist beds now exceeds the number of residents. Many locals find themselves pushed out of the housing market by lucrative short-term rental offers, which leads to overloading the city's infrastructure.

In addition, the experiences of the 2019 flood and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a temporary lull in mass tourism. The city has introduced planning measures to regulate tourism. A general entrance fee for tourists is being discussed to support strained infrastructure while maintaining quality of life for local residents.

Environmental protection and a look into the future

UNESCO is closely watching Venice and raising concerns about the irreversible damage that could be caused by climate change and continued tourist overload. The recent 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Riyadh even discussed a proposal to add Venice to the list of endangered cultural assets. The decision could therefore put pressure on the Italian authorities to take sustainable protective measures for the city.

With this complex mix of cultural heritage, economic challenges and the demands of mass tourism, Venice remains a fascinating but also contested place for its residents and visitors.