Functional Artifacts

Functional artifacts are defined as pieces of public art that serve a purpose other than being decorative. These pieces generally cannot be moved from one place to another due to structural concerns. Although often decorative, functional artifacts always serve a purpose that often makes their removal impossible. Because they are unable to be moved, the restoration of these pieces is much more difficult than when compared to decorative artifacts. Non-erratic artifacts must be restored on site, and therefore are generally more expensive to repair. However, since these artifacts contribute to the structural integrity of the building to which they are attached, they are often restored when the building is restored.

At the present, there are approximately three thousand functional artifacts located within the city of Venice with more on the surrounding islands in the lagoon.