Venice Fellowships Call Out
September 18, 2023We have partnered with British Council to offer two unique opportunities for Bradford based creative people to represent the UK as exhibition ambassadors for a month long paid residency at The Venice Biennale as part of the 2024 Venice Fellowships Programme.
The successful applicants will join individuals representing 65 arts, educational and cultural organisations across the UK and will receive funding and mentorship to spend a month in Venice at one of the world’s most significant showcases of arts and architecture.
The Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is an international cultural exhibition held annually in Venice, Italy. Running from May to November each year, alternating between art and architecture, the Venice Biennale began in 1895 and now attracts half a million visitors a year.
The event showcases artwork from around the world exploring themes related to politics, contemporary cultural issues and social issues through various forms of artistic expression such as performance, sculpture, and installations.
The British Council have commissioned the artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah RA to represent Britian in an exhibition in The British Pavilion in 2024.
The opportunity
The opportunity to be a Venice Fellow means you will spend one month in Venice with two main aims: as an Exhibition Ambassador and to carry out a research or creative project of your own.
As an Exhibition Ambassador, you’ll play an important role in enriching the visitor experience at the British Pavilion, looking after the presentation and acting as an informed and approachable point of contact for international visitors, alongside a team.
You’ll be supported to undertake research activity related to your creative and/or academic interests, responding to the context or themes of the British Pavillion.
The activity could look like developing a podcast, a script, a new artwork, a small exhibition, a public intervention in Venice, an oral history project or new body of work such as a series of drawings or poems. Your research activity be a project taking place during your time in Venice or ideas which are developed throughout the residency and then realised back home.
Successful fellows are required to attend an Online Induction Training programme which is designed to get to know the group and prepare for the trip. This takes place in the evenings online once a week for 7 weeks.
Who is it for
This opportunity is for individuals who are over 18. In addition to the eligibility criteria, we are particularly interested in hearing from people who were born in Bradford or who live/work here today and have a relationship to the district.
Bradford 2025 are committed to distributing opportunities to individuals who may have never done anything like this before. Successful candidates will be supported to make the most of the experience and find confidence throughout the process.
We are keen to express that previous experience working in the arts or access to higher education is not an application requirement. We are however looking for proactive individuals who understand how they would benefit from the opportunity.
How to apply
All information about the opportunity can be found in the Application Guidelines. We encourage you to read this document in full before making an application.
To apply, send the completed Application Form to programme@bradford2025.co.uk with Venice Fellowships as the subject. Complete the online Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form.
Deadline for all applications is Wednesday 8 November at 5pm.
Download the Application Guidelines
Download the Venice Fellowship Application Form 2024
Fill out the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form
Application support
The British Council are also offering two optional online Q&A sessions over Zoom to offer advice and guidance on Wednesday 4 October 2023 6-7pm and Thursday 19 October 2023 6-7pm. These will include an overview of the Application Guidelines, information on how to apply and a chance to hear from previous fellows.
Kerry Campbell, Programme Producer at Bradford 2025 would also be happy to answer any questions, organise an informal chat, or discuss additional support by email at programme@bradford2025.co.uk
