The history inherited by SPAZIO SV – San Vidal Exhibition Center has very distant origins, already at the end of the 1940s.
The space derives from the previous association of the “San Vidal Art Center” of the Venice section.
In 1949 the painter Maestro Felice Carena (Cumiana, Turin 1879 – Venice 1966) created the “Cenacolo San Vidal”, of which he was the first president, housed in the ancient church of San Vidal (not open for worship), first in the sacristy with the name of “Galleria San Vidal”, and then also in the large hall of the church. Already in 1949 an important exhibition of liturgical art and craftsmanship was held there.
Then in the Sixties the illustrious art critic and journalist of the «Gazzettino» Paolo Rizzi (Venice 1932-2007) and the painter Maestro Ernani Costantini (Venice 1922-2007), respectively councilor and president of the section, gave life to the “ Centro d’Arte San Vidal”, which was also the name of the association.
Since 1958, the activity of the Gallery and of the Center has been coordinated with the decisive professional contribution of the visual arts director Giorgio Fabbiani, who has enlightened a host of artists with his organizational skills, profound spirituality and humanity in advising and encouraging.
In the 1990s the San Vidal Art Center changed its location and moved from the Church of San Vidal to the former Scoletta di San Zaccaria.

In the history of the exhibitions of the San Vidal Art Center we must remember artists of the caliber of Felice Carena, Virgilio Guidi, Bruno Saetti, Saverio Rampin, Tancredi Parmeggiani, Giorgio De Chirico, Ottone Rosai, Carlo Carrà, Massimo Campigli, Felice Casorati, Marco Novati, Marzio Banfi, Neno Mori, Giampaolo Domestici, Francesco Valma, Miro Romagna, Carlo Dalla Zorza, Remo Brindisi, Georg Rouault, Pietro Annigoni, and many other artists of national and international fame.

Since 2018, with the new management, space renovation works have been carried out, specifically a modernization of the exhibition halls on the two floors which has made the gallery more current, with the intention of obtaining greater enjoyment of the exhibitions while always respecting and enhancing of the historic place.

In 2019 we arrive at the birth of the “SPACE SV”, which preserves its traditional physical space but at the same time renews it with more experimental intentions.

Today SPAZIO SV is to be considered autonomous in the management of the activities proposed throughout the year. From traditional art exhibitions that will always act as a bridge for reflection between tradition and the contemporary, to activities in the form of workshops, literary or artistic themed presentations, debates.
The goal is to address a larger audience, which can embrace the younger ones without forgetting to involve Venetian residents as well, offering the opportunity to be able to access a “space” in which ideas can freely circulate and foster creativity .