Title Sponsor：The Bicknell Association

The Clarence Bicknell Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research, preservation, and promotion of the Bicknell family's history and cultural heritage. Based in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, the Association is chaired by Marcus Bicknell. While its membership is centered on Bicknell family members worldwide, it warmly welcomes researchers, art enthusiasts, and members of the general public who share an interest in the Bicknell family legacy.

The Association's core mission is to preserve and promote the multifaceted legacy of Clarence Bicknell (1842–1918) — a remarkable polymath who was at once a botanist, archaeologist, artist, and linguist. Over the course of his life, Clarence produced more than three thousand botanical watercolors and made pioneering contributions to the study of prehistoric rock engravings in the Ligurian region of Italy. The Association maintains a dedicated research website, clarencebicknell.com, which has been accessed over 37,000 times since 2013, serving as an important academic resource for researchers and the public seeking to understand Clarence's life and work.

In terms of family history, the Association also places considerable emphasis on the artistic patronage legacy of Elhanan Bicknell (1788–1861), Clarence's father. Elhanan provided financial support to a number of leading artists of his day, including J. M. W. Turner, and played a significant behind-the-scenes role in elevating British watercolor art to its nineteenth-century peak. Through publications, academic symposia, exhibitions, and member events, the Association continues to deepen public understanding of this family's distinctive and enduring contribution to the history of art.

Award Sponsor (Co-Sponsor)：

Titian and Cadore Study Center Foundation

The Fondazione Centro Studi Tiziano e Cadore (Titian and Cadore Study Center Foundation) is a non-profit academic research institution located in Pieve di Cadore, Italy, established in 2003 on the initiative of the Magnifica Comunità di Cadore. The Foundation is headquartered in the fully restored birthplace of Titian himself, a historic landmark that serves as the central base for all of its activities.

The Foundation's core mission is to conduct systematic scholarly research into the life and work of the great Renaissance master Tiziano Vecellio (Titian, c. 1488/1490–1576), under the guidance of an international scientific council. Its research encompasses the clarification of attribution issues, an in-depth examination of the organizational structure of Titian's workshop, and the far-reaching influence of his artistic style across Italy and throughout Europe, as well as the broader cultural and historical study of the Cadore region from past to present.

In terms of scholarly output, the Foundation regularly publishes the academic journal Studi Tizianeschi alongside a range of thematic monographs. It also houses an important Titian Library and a valuable photographic archive, providing essential research resources for scholars, art enthusiasts, and members of the general public worldwide. The Foundation actively organizes academic conferences, cultural forums, and guided cultural tours to collections of Titian's work, fostering international exchange and the wider dissemination of Titian studies.

As a partner institution of the Venice International Watercolor Festival, the Titian Foundation has established a Special Nomination Award for the current edition, bringing its profound academic authority and Renaissance art perspective to enrich the diversity and depth of the festival's judging process.

Shanghai Association for International Cultural and Artistic Exchange

The Shanghai Association for International Cultural and Artistic Exchange is a professional non-profit organization with a long-standing presence in the field of international cultural and artistic exchange, dedicated to fostering cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration between China and countries around the world. Based in Shanghai, the Association leverages the city's distinctive international character to actively build a platform connecting Chinese and foreign artists, cultural institutions, and the broader public.

Over the years, the Association has participated in and facilitated a wide range of significant international art projects, accumulating extensive experience in cross-border collaboration across disciplines including painting, watercolor, and sculpture. Its President, Zhao Kangwei, has devoted himself to the cause of Sino-foreign cultural exchange for many years and enjoys wide recognition and a strong reputation within the art communities of both China and abroad.

Within the Venice International Watercolor Festival, the Shanghai Association for International Cultural and Artistic Exchange plays an important supervisory role, assisting in the overall coordination of the festival and serving as the primary liaison on the Chinese side. The Association has also established a dedicated nomination award, contributing a distinctly Chinese institutional perspective and aesthetic sensibility to the festival's judging process. Its deep involvement has not only strengthened artistic exchange between China and Italy, but has also played a meaningful and positive role in bringing Chinese watercolor art onto the international stage.

Special Support Sponsor