Learning through making: The third “Materie di Studio” workshop cycle Murano Glass with Penzo+Fiore

The Venice School of Management has concluded the third and final cycle of its experiential workshop programme, offering students a unique opportunity to engage directly with the material realities of production through the art of Murano glassmaking.

Held on 8, 15, and 22 May 2026, these workshops were led by the Venice-based artistic duo Penzo+Fiore, composed of artists Andrea Penzo and Cristina Fiore. The initiative formed part of a broader educational programme designed to complement management studies with practical, hands-on experiences rooted in making, craftsmanship, and material culture.

Bridging management education and material practice

While management education often focuses on strategy, organisation, and theory, this workshop series aimed to introduce students to another essential dimension of production: the physical processes through which objects are created.

The initiative invited participants to explore how materials, tools, techniques, constraints, and human gestures shape production. By engaging directly with craftspeople and artistic practices, students gained a deeper understanding of the often-invisible knowledge embedded in manufacturing processes and creative work.

The programme was open to both Bachelor’s and Master’s students of the Venice School of Management. Students applied through an open call and were asked to indicate their preferences among the three workshop cycles offered during the academic year. Due to the limited number of available places, participation could not be guaranteed to all applicants.

For the third and final cycle, dedicated to glassmaking, 10 students were selected and participated in all three workshop sessions.

Learning through glass

The glass workshop focused on lampworking, a traditional technique used to shape and decorate glass by melting glass rods over a flame.

Under the guidance of Andrea Penzo and Cristina Fiore, students worked directly with Murano glass and experienced first-hand the challenges and possibilities of the material. Throughout the three sessions, participants learned how to correctly melt and manipulate glass rods, understand the material’s consistency and behaviour, and develop confidence in handling molten glass.

The workshop culminated in the creation of individual glass beads, which students further embellished using a variety of decorative techniques. Beyond the finished objects themselves, the experience offered valuable insight into the concentration, precision, experimentation, and adaptability required in material production.

By working with glass directly, students encountered a form of knowledge that cannot be acquired solely through books or lectures: the embodied understanding that emerges through practice.

About Penzo+Fiore

Penzo+Fiore is a contemporary artistic duo based in Venice whose work spans visual art, glass, writing, education, and cultural research. Their practice combines material experimentation with critical reflection, often investigating the relationship between Murano glass, territorial narratives, social processes, and the political role of art.

With lifelong experience in Murano glassmaking and an extensive history of teaching workshops and courses for art and design students, Andrea Penzo and Cristina Fiore bring exceptional expertise to educational contexts. Their ability to combine technical knowledge with critical inquiry has made them recognised figures within both artistic and academic communities.

Their openness to interdisciplinary formats and innovative learning experiences made them particularly well suited to lead this workshop, helping management students engage with craftsmanship not only as a production process but also as a cultural, social, and economic phenomenon.

A different perspective on production

The glass workshop concluded a broader cycle of activities aimed at expanding students’ understanding of how value is created through materials, labour, knowledge, and practice.

By stepping outside the classroom and into the workshop environment, participants gained a richer appreciation of the complexities behind production processes and the expertise required to transform raw materials into finished objects.

As industries increasingly seek professionals capable of understanding both strategic and operational dimensions of production, initiatives such as this demonstrate the value of combining management education with direct engagement in the practices of making.