BACK IN VENICE: AmfAR is returning to Italy once again.
The sixth annual amfAR Venice gala will be held in the Italian city on Sept. 6 during its international film festival to raise funds to support global scientific research.
During the evening, artist Marina Abramović will receive the prestigious amfAR Award of Inspiration, joining past honorees Antonio Banderas, Richard Gere, Ferzan Özpetek and Ava DuVernay.
“It is an honor to recognize the humanitarian and philanthropic impact of Marina Abramović’s work this year in Venice,” stated the newly appointed chief executive officer of amfAR, Kyle Clifford. “Her revolutionary art and her dedication are a source of inspiration for us all, as we guide the organization toward a new era of scientific discoveries capable of saving human lives.”
This year’s edition marks the next chapter for amfAR, under the lead of Clifford as its new CEO, succeeding Kevin Robert Frost, and Dr. Andrea Gramatica as vice president and head of research.
Having joined amfAR in 2020 as chief development officer, Clifford guided fundraising activities and contributed to the expansion of the organization’s international event portfolio.
Before joining amfAR, Gramatica was a research assistant professor in immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College and held positions at the Gladstone Institutes and the University of California, San Francisco, contributing to pioneering studies on HIV latency and viral reservoirs.
With Clifford and Gramatica, the organization is maintaining a primary focus on the fight against HIV/AIDS, but is also extending its scope of action to research on cancer, neurological diseases, and autoimmune disorders, among other illnesses.
The black-tie gala event will be held at the Molino Stucky in Venice and will include exclusive musical performances and a live auction of contemporary artworks and unique experiences. The event will have the World Gold Council as presenting sponsor, Chopard as signature sponsor, and Variety as media partner.
Since its founding 40 years ago, amfAR has raised more than $970 million and funded more than 3,900 research fellowships for research teams worldwide.
