«This is the first time ever that an exhibition has been mounted for war clubs». This fact was emphasized during the inauguration of the exhibition “Power and Prestige – The art of clubs in Oceania”, by both Inti Ligabue, chairman of the Giancarlo Ligabue Foundation, and by Professor Steven Hooper, curator of the exhibition. 

The inauguration was held on 15th October at Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti, Venice, venue of the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, where the exhibition is held. 
On this occasion, the Ngati Ranana London Maori Club, a New Zealand traditional dance troupe, staged a much admired Haka on the shore of the Grand Canal. 

There are 126 clubs on display, all from Oceania, that are dated between the late XVIII to the XIX and XX centuries. Among the man lenders there is the British Museum, London, and the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Paris, co-promoter of the exhibition that will host it from June 2022.