The Chorus Association of Venetian Churches (
Italian: ''Chorus Associazione per le Chiese del Patriarcato di Venezia''), often shortened to Chorus Association, is a
cultural conservation organisation working within the city of
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The isla ...
in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. It works to safeguard, conserve and restore the artistic, historical and cultural heritage contained within the sixteen Venetian churches that presently constitute its membership.
Project
Chorus was founded in June 1997, set-up by public act as a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
association. Its initial members were the priests and rectors of the thirteen founding churches. It was added to Venice City Council's Register of Associations in August 1997 and in December 1999 the Veneto Region recognised it as a legal entity in accordance with Italian Civil Code.
In 2000, the Cassa di Risparmio di Venezia Foundation joined Chorus along with a number of lay persons. The total membership currently stands at nineteen.
Chorus brings together a network of 16 of Venice’s churches (see list below) which between them house more than a thousand works of art. The concept has been defined as an "area museum" and allows the latest conservation practices to be applied across the network. The project also follows the concept of "conservation through utilisation" whereby the demand from visitors to view the cultural works that the churches house becomes self-financing, so that maintenance, conservation and enhancement of the history, artwork and heritage can continue to take place.
Members
The 18 churches which are presently members of the Chorus Association are:
*
Church of Santa Maria del Giglio
*
Church of Santo Stefano
*
Church of Santa Maria Formosa
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period