History & Resources
What is the Venice Biennale?
The official poster from the first International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 1895.
The Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition is the most prestigious visual arts event in the world, taking place once every two years in Venice, Italy.
Beginning over 100 years ago, in 1895, when five hundred works of art - just under half by Italian artists, the rest featuring international artists - made up the “International Exhibition of Art of the City of Venice”, the Venice Biennale has grown to encompass today more than 800 artists representing 70 countries.
In 1907 the Biennale began to develop something of the format it comprises today, with several countries installing national pavilions at the event.
The poster from La Biennale di Venezia 1930
The Biennale's Other Festivals
By the 1930s, the Biennale had grown to encompass festivals in Music, Cinema and Theatre (the Venice Film Festival in 1932 was the first film festival ever organized). In 1980 the first International Architecture Exhibition took place, and in 1999 the world of Dance made its debut at the Biennale.
New Zealand participates officially in the International Art Exhibition at the Biennale.
See the archive of official exhibition posters and resources from the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition between 1895 to 2005 here
National Pavilions
Today the Biennale is a kind of world fair of contemporary art, showcasing the work of over 800 artists who represent more than 70 countries. Artists showing in national pavilions are selected by their country to represent the most significant contemporary art practice that the country has to offer. Each country is invited to attend officially by the Italian government.
The Biennale is based at the Giardini di Castello, gardens in the east of Venice that have played host to the event since 1895. The area houses the Italian pavilion and 34 national pavilions. Countries that show in the Giardini include Australia, England, Brazil and Germany. The assignment of the permanent pavilions in the Giardini was largely dictated by the international politics of the 1930s and the Cold War.
Countries without pavilions in the Giardini, such as New Zealand, show their art in palaces and historic venues around the city. Participating countries without pavilions in the Giardini have increased in recent years. At the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007, 42 pavilions where situated outside the Giardini.
Curated Exhibition
La Biennale di Venezia 2009's Curated Exhibition is entitled Making Worlds
This exhibition includes artists from around the world and is a major component of the Biennale event. Today the exhibition is largely staged in the Corderie Dell'Arsenale, a large disused rope factory about 10 minutes walk from the Giardini.
This year’s guest curator is the highly esteemed Swedish curator Daniel Birnbaum, with theme of the 2009 Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition entitled, ‘Making Worlds’.
Collateral Events
Under the official umbrella of the Biennale, a range of related activities take place around Venice. These include commercial and non-commercial exhibitions, film screenings, performances, concerts, official parties and functions, lectures and symposia. Various non-Biennale related arts activities also take place during the Biennale period.
Quick Links
La Biennale di Venezia official site
The Exhibition of Exhibitions 1895-2005 of La Biennale di Venezia
