Grand opening celebration for the Venice Heritage Museum (VHM) takes place on Saturday, March 9^th from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Main Street Design Center (228 Main Street, Venice, CA 90291). The entire event is free and open to the general public. Opening of the inaugural exhibition titled, This is some place, will be preceded by a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. This all ages event is a community celebration that will include live entertainment, food vendors and beverage stands. It is a celebration of the true spirit of Venice.

Justin Yoshimaru, President of the Venice Heritage Foundation says “I am delighted to open the doors of the Venice Heritage Museum. This is a welcoming space where Venetians, Angelenos, and all visitors can join together to celebrate our collective histories, preserve important stories, empower our communities, and connect the past with the present. I encourage everyone to come visit the first-ever museum for Venice and experience our exhibitions, cultural programming, and community events. Thank you to all of our community members, donors, and partners for their continued support in bringing this project to life.”

The opening of this museum is the culmination of years of dedicated work and fundraising efforts to build a space that will serve the community for many generations to come.

The opening exhibition, This is some place, will present visitors with a sequence of activities, and exemplary moments spanning the last 119 years, demonstrating how Venetians have sought to make their home distinct from the world that surrounds and affects it. “The exhibition title, This is some place, comes from the message on a postcard sent from Venice in 1913,” explains Anthony Carfello, the newly appointed Museum Manager. He goes on to say: “The postcard shows an aerial image of Windward Ave. on the front, and the sender wrote only this single sentence on the back to describe Venice. Deceptively simple, this sentiment actually goes right to the heart of VHM’s mission: Venice is indeed some place. So much so, that it deserves study and appreciation in the way that only a dedicated museum space can provide.”

VHM’s mission is to preserve, showcase, and nurture Venice’s diverse historical legacy. The museum will give Venetians, Angelenos, and visitors alike the opportunity to experience stories, collections, and archives from one of the country’s most culturally rich and innovative communities.

The VHM will be a space for discovery. In the face of constant change, the museum will be an inclusive hub to celebrate all the eclectic cultures and exciting facets of Venice history. The accepting and progressive legacy of Venice will be on display, with exhibits highlighting both well-known, and more obscure stories, and archives, showcasing their relevance in today’s world.

GRAND OPENING EVENT SCHEDULE

• 6:30 p.m. Doors
• 7:00 p.m. Speaking Ceremony
• 7:30 p.m. Ribbon Cutting
• 7:30 –9:30 p.m. Inaugural Exhibition Opens to Public for Community Celebration

Venice Paparazzi will also be hosting a photo booth at the event!  See you there!