The prize-giving ceremony has been held annually since 1998. Over the past two years, the location has been the magnificent Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, in Venice.
The Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista was founded in 1261 and it is one of the greatest of the Venetian scuole – charitable, religious and social institutions which provided the platform for much of the city’s cultural life, along with Misericordia, Carità, San Marco, San Rocco, San Teodoro. The Renaissance transformation, which began in the 1480s, includes a delightful courtyard, one of the earliest grand stairways in Europe and a glorious hall. This was further embellished in the 16th century with paintings and, in the 18th century, by architectural ornamentation, a marble floor and ceiling paintings. In the arch crowning the portal an eagle symbolizes St John the Evangelist.
The building complex is the result of century-long architecture and decoration works. The most important and famous architects in Venice during the early Renaissance gave their significant contribution. Paintings by Titian contribute to the high value of the building.
http://www.scuolasangiovanni.it/