On January 2, 2017, the Master Lacemakers Association of the Burano Lace Museum was established, appointing Umberto Marcello Del Majno as President.
The Association was established due to the need to recognize a role for those women who, despite the closure of the Lace School, have continued to practice their art while preserving the secrets of a typical tradition of Burano.
The intention was to give the Master Lacemakers a legal identity and a tool for cultivating a shared passion for lace as well as an opportunity to become known and appreciated even beyond the island of Burano.
The Association also wants to pursue the development of any activity or project that favours the revival, preservation and promotion of the traditional artisan and artistic culture of lace-making. For this reason, it has established a collaboration with Dr. Chiara Squarcina, Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia.
At the Burano Museum, Master Lacemakers are often present and create their splendid lace as visitors watch to demonstrate what skill, artistry, and time are needed for their extraordinary handiwork.
Besides participating in the most important lace-making exhibitions, events and competitions where they often win the top awards, Master Lacemakers hold individual and group courses with different levels of difficulty for students in the beautiful rooms of the Burano Lace Museum.
In collaboration with Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia Education, a program is available for primary, secondary and high school students. In addition to a guided tour of the Burano Lace Museum, the students can try their hand at making a small piece of lace, under the guidance of Master Lacemakers, which they can later take home with them.
The Master Lacemakers are also very active and present in activities aimed at obtaining the recognition of lace-making as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity, in collaboration with a dense network of important groups in this field throughout Italy.