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an experience
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Every year, thousands of visitors from all corners of the globe flock to Venice to admire hundreds of artworks and participate in international exhibitions and shows that celebrate human creativity. This is the Venice Biennale, an unmissable event for anyone who wishes to immerse themselves in the latest artistic avant-garde and discover the creations of the most brilliant and innovative minds in the world. This extraordinary event explores art in all its forms, from painting to dance, offering a kaleidoscope of emotions and reflections as you stroll through the gardens and alleyways of one of the world’s most captivating cities.
Considered one of the most prestigious cultural events worldwide, the Venice Biennale has maintained its undeniable authority over time, thanks to its ability to present works and artists from every era through ever-new perspectives while simultaneously anticipating emerging trends in the art world. Originally established to celebrate the visual arts, the event has expanded its scope to embrace music, cinema, theater, architecture, and dance, becoming an international cultural beacon.
Since its first edition, the Biennale has undergone numerous transformations, starting with its location. Initially confined to the Napoleonic Gardens in the Castello district, one of Venice’s six areas, the exhibition has now spread throughout the entire city, proving that art truly knows no boundaries.
All that remains is to delve into the long and prestigious history of the Venice Biennale, a source of pride not only for Italy but for the entire world.
The International Art Exhibition of Venice, more commonly known as the Venice Biennale, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious art exhibitions in the world, held every two years in the splendid setting of the lagoon city. Founded in 1893 with the goal of promoting contemporary art, the Biennale has become a cultural institution over the course of the 20th century, expanding its scope with the organization of Architecture Exhibitions, Cinema, Music, Theater, and Dance Festivals.
The main purpose of the Biennale is to promote avant-garde movements and new trends in various artistic disciplines, with a particular focus on contemporary art. The event serves as fertile ground for dialogue and exchange between a plurality of voices and perspectives, inviting artists and the public to explore new expressive horizons.
The organization of the International Art Exhibition is entrusted to a curator, appointed by the Board of Directors, who is responsible for independently selecting the artists and works and orchestrating the setup of the main exhibition. Participation by foreign countries is open, and each nation has the freedom to select its own artists and works through a dedicated commission. Over the years, the number of participating countries has grown exponentially, reflecting the global importance of the event.
The institutional headquarters of the Biennale is located at Palazzo Ca’ Giustinian, where conferences and seminars are held. The main exhibition venues include the Arsenale, the Gardens, and 36 national pavilions scattered throughout Venice, offering visitors a truly immersive experience.
One of the most anticipated moments of the Biennale is the awards ceremony, during which an international jury awards the Golden Lion for the best National Participation and for the best artist of the International Exhibition, as well as the Silver Lion for a promising young artist. Special mentions are also given in various categories, recognizing excellence in a variety of artistic forms.
In the past, one of the main challenges for organizing the Biennale was the financial sustainability of the event, which was primarily supported by public funds. Today, thanks to funding from both public and private sources, the Venice Biennale Foundation can pursue its ambitious projects in a sustainable manner, ensuring the continuity and innovation of this globally significant cultural event.
The Venice Biennale, a global crossroads of arts and cultures, is an event rich in fascinating stories and surprising curiosities. Here are a few things you might not know about this important event:
– The Italian Pavilion, now one of the Biennale’s symbols, was built in 1895 for the inauguration of the first edition. Initially, the building was dedicated to art in general and was called “Pro Arte.”
– After the Italian Pavilion, the first permanent pavilion at the Biennale was the Belgian Pavilion, built in 1907, marking the beginning of international participation in the event.
– Visiting the individual pavilions is like taking a journey around the world, not only because of the artworks on display but also because inside each pavilion, the laws and regulations of the represented country apply. It’s like temporarily leaving Italian soil and immersing yourself in a different culture.
– The 59th International Art Exhibition in 2022, titled The Milk of Dreams and curated by Cecilia Alemani, was the most visited edition in the history of the Biennale, attracting around 820,000 visitors. Of these, 59% came from abroad, and the remaining 41% from Italy. Additionally, about 30% of the visitors were young people and students, demonstrating the ongoing allure of art for new generations.
The Venice Biennale
It is said that the story of the Venice Biennale began at the tables of the famous Caffè Florian, one of the most vibrant cultural salons in the Lagoon and today a historic venue overlooking San Marco Square. It was in this setting, frequented by the intellectual elite, that the idea of organizing an art exhibition in Venice took shape.
The Florian, which opened in 1720, has always hosted some of the most influential national and international personalities. Among its patrons in the late 19th century was Riccardo Selvatico, playwright, poet, and mayor of Venice from 1890 to 1895. Together with his collaborators, Selvatico nurtured the dream of bringing the latest artistic innovations to Venice, an ambitious project that became a reality on April 19, 1893, the date of the official founding act of the Biennale.
April 30, 1895, marked the inauguration of the International Art Exhibition of the City of Venice, the first biennale in the world. The event was born with the aim of stimulating artistic activity and the art market, not only in the lagoon city but throughout the Italian state, a goal that the Biennale continues to pursue today.
The name “Biennale” derives from the biennial frequency of its events, with the exception of the Venice Film Festival, which began in 1932 with the same frequency but became an annual event starting in 1935. The permanent pavilions of the participating countries, located in the Napoleonic Gardens, are true architectural gems, many of which were designed by renowned architects such as Carlo Scarpa and Gerrit Rietveld. These pavilions, considered diplomatic representations, enjoy extraterritoriality.
In 1930, the Biennale was transformed into an autonomous entity, moving from the control of the City of Venice to that of the Fascist State. From that moment, the event expanded to include the Contemporary Music Festival (1930), the International Film Festival (1932), the Theatre Biennale (1934), the Architecture Biennale (1980), and finally the Dance Biennale (1999).
The most significant reform of the Biennale’s statute is the one from 2004, still in force today, which defines it as the “Venice Biennale Foundation,” with legal personality under private law, supported by both public and private funds.
The Venice Biennale is now one of the most prestigious artistic events globally, capable of attracting thousands of visitors from around the world and presenting hundreds of artworks, exhibitions, illustrious guests, and international showcases. Over the years, the Napoleonic Gardens have witnessed not only an increase in the number of visitors but also in the number of participating countries, each with its own exhibition pavilion.
Today, every edition of the Biennale, except for the film festival, revolves around a specific theme, often aimed at conveying a universal message. After all, art is a language that speaks to everyone.
The Venice Biennale
The 60th International Art Exhibition of Venice is an event not to be missed.
Titled Foreigners Everywhere, this edition focuses on the theme of transcending geographical and cultural boundaries and combating racism and xenophobia. Curated by Adriano Pedrosa, a Brazilian curator and director of the Museum of Art of São Paulo, it opened on April 20 and will run until November 24.
This year’s Biennale features 331 artists and collectives who have lived or are living in and between 80 countries, including Hong Kong, Palestine, and Puerto Rico. The main focus of Biennale Arte 2024 is on artists who are foreigners, immigrants, expatriates, part of a diaspora, exiles, or refugees, particularly those moving between the Global South and the Global North.
The Biennale this year includes the participation of 87 nations in the historic pavilions at the Giardini, the Arsenale, and in the historic center of Venice. Four countries are participating in the Biennale Arte for the first time: the Republic of Benin, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and the United Republic of Tanzania. The Republic of Panama and Senegal are participating for the first time with their own pavilions.
A special mention goes to the Pavilion of the Holy See, which will be hosted at the Women’s Correctional Facility in Venice on the Giudecca island. This edition also holds a unique record: it is the first to welcome a pope among its guests! Papa Francesco visited the Pavilion of the Holy See on Sunday, April 28.
As mentioned earlier, the Venice Biennale spreads throughout the city, transforming every corner into an exhibition space. Although the main venue is in the Napoleonic Gardens (or the Lido for the film event), the scheduled events extend to historic palaces, deconsecrated churches, and even boats.
Many of the exhibitions and shows organized in Venetian palaces are free to visit, but to access the Giardini of the Biennale, you need to purchase a ticket.
Once you arrive in the Lagoon, we recommend visiting one of the Tourist Information and Reception Offices (IAT) to pick up a brochure or one of the booklets created especially for the occasion. Inside, you will find a complete list of events and locations, so you can choose the ones that interest you the most. Here’s where you can find the IAT offices:
– If you arrive by train: inside Venice Santa Lucia Station, in front of platform 2.
– If you arrive by car: inside the Municipal Garage at Piazzale Roma.
– If you arrive by plane: in the arrivals area of Marco Polo Airport.
– If you are already in Venice: one of the offices is located in San Marco Square, the most beautiful living room in the city!
Alternatively, you can check the official Biennale website for all the information.
To reach the Giardini of the Biennale, you can walk through Venice, getting lost in its alleys and squares, and discovering the various event locations along the way. If exploring Venice on foot seems tiring, the vaporetti, the famous “water buses,” offer a convenient and quintessentially Venetian way to get around.
Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in the lively and vibrant atmosphere of the Biennale and discover the art that inspires the future!