24 Aug 2023
Creative New Zealand is delighted to announce that five New Zealand artists will be presenting their work at the Venice Biennale in 2024. Invited to participate in the international exhibition, Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, by curator Adriano Pedrosa, this is the largest number of New Zealand artists ever selected to present within the prestigious international exhibition.
“This is an incredible coup for Aotearoa and our artists”, says Creative New Zealand CE, Stephen Wainwright.
“To have so many artists invited to present work within the context of the international curated exhibition which lies at the heart of each Biennale is truly fantastic. The work of respected and significant artists from Aotearoa will be positioned alongside high-quality works from all over the world and seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors over the seven months run of the biennale,” he says.
The international exhibition, Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, will be presented in the main exhibition spaces within the Giardini and Arsenale from 20 April to 24 November 2024.
Gretchen La Roche, Senior Manager Arts Development says the strength of New Zealand’s contemporary visual arts was the basis for the invitation.
“Adriano Pedrosa has developed a relationship with New Zealand artists and curators over the years – he is very supportive and engaged with Aotearoa’s visual arts and culture,” she says.
The Venice Biennale curator travelled to New Zealand earlier this year and led to the confirmation of five invitations.
“The exhibition will compromise some existing works, and the commission of wholly new work for biennale audiences and it’s exciting to be able to support the realisation of these new ideas for Venice,” said La Roche.
Participating New Zealand artists will be announced in early 2024 by the Venice Biennale.
Creative New Zealand conducted a review of our presence at Venice in 2022 (a previous review took place in 2006 and an internal evaluation in 2013); the review recommended ongoing support of New Zealand’s participation within the Venice Biennale and the sourcing of a delivery partner for presentations in 2026, 2028 and 2030. Creative New Zealand’s support for our artists’ involvement in the 2024 biennale represents a transition to the partnership model recommended by the review for the biennial event. Creative New Zealand will soon be calling for applications from parties interested in helping to deliver future NZ@Venice presentations.
In addition to securing a more sustainable and sector-engaged delivery model, the review noted a desire for career building opportunities associated with Venice. Creative New Zealand has partnered with the Creative Australia this year for the first time to provide two spaces for New Zealanders working in the visual arts (art writers, curators, artists, technicians etc.) to participate in the highly regarded Biennale Delegates Program. Applications open on the 31st of August and close on the 10th of October.
Click here for more information on the Australia Arts Council website
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