Established in 1895, the Venice Biennale is one of the world's most important critical forums for contemporary visual art. Thousands of the world's leading curators, collectors, gallery directors and critics attend this biennial event.

The Venice Biennale comprises a curated show at the Giardini and Arsenale and more than 70 national exhibitions in 28 pavilions within the Giardini and other locations throughout the city.

The event attracts 30,000 key international curators, critics, collectors and artists to the three-day Vernissage (preview) period alone, and a further 265,000 visitors (including many school groups and young adults) to the five-month exhibition.

To visit the official website of the Venice Biennale click here .

The Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, has managed and funded an Australian representation at the Venice Biennale for nearly 30 years.

We are committed to building opportunities for the international presentation and collection of Australian contemporary art, and representation at the Biennale is an important part of this strategy.

Australia’s participation in the Venice Biennale has contributed to the professional development of many artists and has opened up significant presentation opportunities internationally.

In common with 28 other countries, the Australia Council owns a pavilion in the Giardini di Castello. The Australian Pavilion was designed by renowned Australian architect Philip Cox and opened in 1988.

Australia first exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1954 and has participated in every event since 1978 (excluding 1984).