Narrator: Glassblowers have been creating works of art
on this small Venetian island for more than 700 years.
Today, the very thing
that powers Murano's industry could kill it.
Gas prices are skyrocketing,
and many furnaces have been forced to shut down.
Narrator: Chiara Taiariol runs one
of the only women-owned workshops on the island.
In February, she spent the inheritance
from her mother's death to keep her business going.
Narrator: And it all comes at a time
when the trade is already struggling.
Narrator: So amid a gas crisis and with a dwindling workforce,
how is this industry still standing?
Chiara and her partner, Mariana Oliboni, launched
their business in September 2021,
just weeks before gas prices in Europe spiked.
They're waiting to find out
whether the government relief program will reimburse them
for three months of gas bills.
Narrator: They like to bring a feminine spin to their pieces,
like this vase.
Narrator: Today they're making a prehistoric Venus statue.
Chiara builds up molten glass at the end of the rod.
Any excess glass drips into a pan called a farassa.
Narrator: Between trips to the furnace, she shapes the glass.
Narrator: Chiara grew up in Italy,
but learned American glassblowing techniques
while working in Seattle.
Narrator: Harder because they need to work faster,
especially when running the furnaces is so expensive.
And they still need to pay attention to every detail.
Narrator: They spend a lot of time standing
in front of the 2,000-degree oven.
Narrator: The gas furnace is what links this tiny business
to the global economy.
That's because Europe imports about 40%
of its natural gas from Russia,
which has been limiting the supply.
Gas prices have already gone up
after Russia's invasion of Ukraine,
and people here worry it could get worse.
Back in November,
the Veneto region set aside 3 million euros
to help offset glassmakers' expenses,
but it wasn't enough to keep some glassblowers
from shutting down their furnaces.
Gas became a crucial part of the industry in the 1950s,
but the history goes back much further.
The craft took off in Murano back in 1291,
when Venetian officials ordered all glassblowers
to relocate to the small island
to prevent the risk of fire on the mainland.
Murano's reign over the industry peaked
around the 15th century
with the invention of transparent glass.
But many glassmakers moved abroad in the 1630s
when the plague triggered a financial crisis.
Some masters kept the art alive
by reviving traditional techniques during the 1800s.
Another artist, Giancarlo Signoretto,
started working in glass as a kid
by making this horse statue for tourists.
Narrator: He's trying to pass the torch
by teaching his assistant, Agnese.
Narrator: He remembers a time
when masters were possessive of their methods,
and he says that tainted today's industry.
Narrator: Now, Giancarlo faces the same crisis
as the rest of the island.
His last gas bill was four times higher than usual,
and using less gas isn't really an option.
These furnaces have to run 24/7.
Narrator: If the temperature drops below 1,000 degrees Celsius,
the crucibles inside that hold the molten glass
will crack and break.
Narrator: Rebuilding and reheating the furnace could take weeks
and cost up to $22,000.
Narrator: Giancarlo says he's still breaking even right now,
and he doesn't want to lose customers by shutting down.
Narrator: Mariana and Chiara are still
debating whether or not to shut off their furnace.
But even if they do, it won't stop them from innovating.
Narrator: And no matter what, they refuse to give up on glass.
Narrator: Giancarlo's same passion for the art
will keep him going, too.