Your Bead for Venice
An international celebration of glass beadmaking

Venetian beadmaking has inspired generations of artists around the world. Many of today’s glass colors, styles, and techniques—from murrini and reticello to gold leaf decoration—either originated or were reinvented in Venice. In recognition of this cultural importance, the art of glass beads was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.

Building on this legacy, the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB), the Comitato per la Salvaguardia dell’Arte delle Perle di Vetro Veneziane, and Perliers d’Art de France have joined forces to organize Your Bead for Venice: an international competition that invites beadmakers everywhere to create beads inspired by Venetian techniques and traditions.

From the many submissions received each year, a jury selects 20 finalists. Their beads are exhibited at THE MURANO GLASS MUSEUM as part of Venice Glass Week, where they are judged by an international panel of experts and admired by thousands of visitors, who also vote for the Public Choice Award.

Since its first edition in 2022, Your Bead for Venice has brought together artists from more than a dozen countries, creating a unique exchange of knowledge, inspiration, and artistry. The competition highlights not only the enduring influence of Venetian beadmaking but also the creativity and diversity of contemporary glass artists worldwide.

Together, we celebrate the universal language of beads—connecting makers, traditions, and audiences across cultures and generations.

International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB)
Comitato per la Salvaguardia dell’Arte delle Perle di Vetro Veneziane
Perliers d’Art de France