MILAN — Dior and Venetian Heritage partnered once again in support of a restoration project.
The French luxury house and the philanthropic organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Venice’s cultural treasures held their traditional fundraising ball, first established in 2019, on Saturday evening, the day the Venice Biennale Arte officially kicked off.
The partners are linked by American architect Peter Marino, chairman and president of Venetian Heritage Inc., New York, who has designed numerous stores for Dior parent LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
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“I’m very glad for Dior to be part of the Venetian Heritage initiative, led by Peter Marino, whose commitment to preserving Venice’s patrimony is deeply inspiring,” Delphine Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of Christian Dior Couture, told WWD.
Arnault pointed out that Marino already contributed to the restoration of “remarkable cultural landmarks” in Venice, including the Ca’ d’Oro Palace and the Porta Magna. “Helping to protect this unique bequest means preserving not only history but also artisanship. It aligns perfectly with our belief in the importance of transmitting a legacy and fostering dialogue between luxury, culture and history, in a continual effort to support creation in all its forms,” she said.
The Casino Royale Ball took place at the Palazzo del Casinò on the Venice Lido to support the restoration and reinstallation project of the Ca’ d’Oro, a state museum under the authority of the Italian Ministry of Culture, enabling the redesign of the spaces housing its permanent collections. Led by Venetian Heritage in collaboration with the Giulio and Giovanna Sacchetti Foundation, the program, launched in 2023, will be completed in 2027.
The Ca’ d’Oro is considered the best surviving palazzo in Venetian Gothic architecture featuring an exquisite open-work marble facade that in the past was partially gilded, which led to its name that translates into “golden house” in English.
Dior has been a donor to the Biennale for years and this partnership with Venetian Heritage reflects the brand’s longstanding commitment to supporting the arts.
“Venice is eternally magical. My involvement with Venetian Heritage comes from a longstanding commitment to Venice and its cultural legacy. Venetian Heritage focuses on restoration projects that are both historically significant and urgently in need of support — from architectural landmarks and sculpture to major works of art, including the renovation of Ca’ d’Oro. The goal is not only preservation, but ensuring these works remain part of a living cultural context,” Marino said.
The Venetian Heritage Biennale Gala Weekend included a dinner celebrating the reopening of Oro at Hotel Cipriani, which Marino recently redesigned for Belmond, the luxury hospitality company also under the LVMH umbrella.
“Working on Oro was an opportunity to reinterpret the historic glamour of Venice through a contemporary lens while preserving the intimacy and elegance that make the Cipriani so exceptional,” Marino said. Guests experienced a menu created by Massimo Bottura together with Oro’s head chef Vania Ghedini.
“Dior has been an extraordinary partner in supporting that vision, helping create moments that celebrate Venice not as a monument to the past, but as a living center of culture, creativity and beauty,” Marino continued.
He said the Casino Royale Ball at the Palazzo del Casinò “evokes the glamour of the Lido in the 1930s, recalling the golden age of the Venice Film Festival within one of the city’s most atmospheric historic settings.”
Opened in the early 20th century, the palace, with its Art Deco architecture, has hosted many events and premieres linked to the Venice Film Festival.
Toto Bergamo Rossi, director of Fondazione Venetian Heritage in Venice, said he was “very proud” of and “grateful” for the collaboration with Dior. “I am truly grateful to the maison for its trust and support of Venetian Heritage and of our commitment to safeguarding and promoting Venice’s cultural legacy.”
In 2024, underscoring its ties to Venice, Dior revealed the completion of the restoration of the Porta Magna gate in the city, collaborating with the Venetian Heritage Foundation.
The imposing gateway is located in the Venice Arsenale, a complex of former shipyards and armories. Built in the mid-15th century, it is crowned with a sculpture of the Lion of Saint Mark, emblem of the Republic of Venice.