GLASS BRIDGE

Curated by Emmanuel Babled
In collaboration with Comune di Venezia, Kukua Company Limited
Under the patronage of Ambasciata d’Italia a Dar es Salaam 
Sponsor Neos Airlines

Created to mark the tenth edition of The Venice Glass Week, Glass Bridge. From Murano to the World: Glass as an Act of Cooperation is an international design and craft initiative that creates a dialogue between the centuries-old tradition of Murano glassmaking and the contemporary workshop of Shanga in Arusha, Tanzania. Conceived by Emmanuel Babled and Kukua, under the patronage of the Embassy of Italy in Dar es Salaam, the project is founded on the belief that craftsmanship becomes most meaningful when knowledge is shared.
In November 2025, Murano master glassmakers Andrea Zilio and Luigi Varagnolo travelled to Tanzania to work alongside Shanga’s artisans in an intensive workshop dedicated to exchanging techniques, materials, and creative approaches. Rather than simply transferring expertise from one place to another, the project fostered a genuine collaboration in which different traditions enriched one another, giving rise to new forms, new processes, and new perspectives.

Beyond the creation of new glass objects, Glass Bridge established the foundations for a lasting partnership. Tools, moulds, furnaces, and specialised equipment donated by Murano workshops and project partners now remain at Shanga, enabling local artisans to continue developing their own glassmaking practice independently. The workshop became not only a moment of artistic exchange, but the beginning of a long-term investment in skills, education, and creative production.

The works presented in this exhibition are among the first outcomes of this collaboration. They reflect an encounter between Murano’s extraordinary technical heritage and the ingenuity, resilience, and creativity of Shanga’s artisans. Each piece embodies a dialogue between cultures, materials, and people, demonstrating how contemporary design can generate social impact while preserving and reinventing traditional craftsmanship.

Glass Bridge continues to evolve. What began as a workshop has become an ongoing partnership between Murano and Tanzania, opening new possibilities for experimentation, education, and production. More than a project, it is a living bridge—connecting communities, celebrating shared knowledge, and demonstrating that craftsmanship can be a powerful catalyst for cultural exchange, inclusion, and sustainable development.

The Glass Bridge project was developed under the patronage of the Embassy of Italy in Dar es Salaam, with the support of Neos Airlines.