Rhizomatic Practices is a three-day gathering of over 45 independent organisations – including collectives, artists and publishing projects – linked to the Venetian area and its network of artistic and cultural connections, through independent publishing, performance, live music and opportunities for meeting and sharing.

Drawing on the concept of the rhizome – understood as a non-hierarchical, open organisational model based on a multiplicity of connections – Rhizomatic Practices invites reflection on artistic practices and spaces for gathering as dynamic, interconnected systems.

From 6 to 8 November 2026, the project will take shape at Spazio SPUMA, within the former Dreher industrial complex on the Giudecca in Venice. After six years of activity, the venue will close its doors at the end of November, following the sale of the complex that houses it. This situation is part of a wider urban context characterised by gentrification and property redevelopment, which are making the future of independent spaces dedicated to artistic experimentation and cultural gathering increasingly uncertain.

The closure of a space, however, does not represent a setback but may, in fact, become a driving force that enables social cohesion to find a reason and purpose for seeking new solutions and innovative approaches in order to respond to the current processes of gentrification and property redevelopment.

Programme (Full programme here)

The three days bring together different practices and forms of expression, shaping a programme of experimentation, exchange and collective participation.

Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November will be dedicated to independent publishing, featuring 22 publishing projects, collectives and authors, including Boring Boring, tongue.etc, Lovely Ratz Collective, BOOKS4PALESTINE, Debatable Publishing, Serena Troisi, Giulio Favotto, Saluti da Castelfranco, Marco Arrigoni, Ginevra Ceccarani, Collettivo Scafandra, Xeroxed, Scartizine, Muddy Island, Pellicola Magazine, 2046 Hong Kong, Vertebra, Altana Rivista and No Stress Press.

The publications will be accompanied by sound installations and live sets by Feel Good Vinyl and Alexander Binder, whilst the performance programme will feature Collettivo Scafandra + Alice with Cucciolo, Nova Ruth, Carlotta Riva with Cosa resterà, Beatrice Donda with A uso interno and Giotto Orsini. The evenings will continue and conclude with moments of sharing and conviviality, accompanied by live sets and DJ sets, featuring Alvise Tramonte, Alberto Vidal, Giovanni Coppola, Elena Callegari, Eliseo Adri and Costantino Drei.

Throughout all three days, there will also be a selection of exhibition projects and installations, featuring contributions from R Archive, Uterine Lagoon; Gabriele Ceccarelli and Leonardo Fornasa, Leaving Traces; Alexander Binder, Labyrinth Orchid; and Catalina Mazilo, Con.Res.

Sunday 8 November will be dedicated to a moment of collective reflection on the future of independent cultural spaces in Venice, through a talk bringing together artists and representatives of organisations active in the area, including Francesca Giubilei and Luca Berta, Toto Da Mosto of Aizenev, No Title Gallery, Nita Spazio, Sale Docks and idEntità.

The topics addressed will focus on the relationship between content and container, between exhibition space and exhibited object, analysing how, in the contemporary context of a progressive loss of spaces accessible to artistic and cultural production, opportunities may arise to reorganise independent organisations and create new creative hubs through widespread networks that transcend the centre-periphery divide.

The programme will conclude with a performance by Nicolò Di Cecio and Camilla Confente and a collective musical session.