Become a Fellowships Partner
Fellows at the British Pavilion, November 2022
Our national presentations are renowned for influencing the future of contemporary culture at a global level. The art and architecture exhibitions in Venice not only reflect the incredible contemporary creative talent in the UK, they provide an important platform for embracing, trusting and facilitating that talent to shine.
Sonia Boyce’s 2022 exhibition in Venice was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion in recognition of her artistic talent, her 40 year practice, the values and techniques she holds dear as well as the efforts of the whole team in working together to make the exhibition happen. The success and impact of every exhibition is the result of collaboration and teamwork and is reliant on the generous contributions from sponsors.
The Fellowships Partners are institutions and organisations across the UK who are responsible for shortlisting their internal candidates to take part on the programme and who have committed to fund and support their selected candidates to develop their project or research in Venice.
‘Liverpool School of Architecture have been pleased to continue to partner and support the British Council in its Venice Fellowship programme. The Fellowship provides a fantastic opportunity to be immersed in and around critical conversation, environment and artistic endeavour of the highest quality as part of the international platform of the Venice Biennale. The impact of the residency experience has stayed with our LSA Fellows long beyond their time in Venice – opening doors, widening perspectives, developing skills and beginning friendships. It has been a total pleasure to be involved.’ – Sandy Britton RIBA, Liverpool School of Architecture, University of Liverpool
‘We are thrilled to have been able to partner with the British Council on their Fellowships Programme! Opportunities like these are incredibly valuable to us as an organisation, the sector and of course the artists/fellows themselves. To spend time in a completely different context helps our alumni artists to grow and reflect in their practice and research. Without opportunities and support like this it is unlikely that many young artists would be able to access and experience the Venice Biennale and the international art sector and networks that it brings. These moments in artists careers are integral to them sustaining and opening networks and thinking, reflecting in their work whilst being part of a wider-international context.‘ – Polly Brannan, Open School East Artistic Director
Our Fellowships Partners are absolutely central to supporting emerging creatives and future talents. We welcome new partners each year. If you are interested in becoming a partner, please see the Open Call document below for further details and contact Sophie Lucas, Venice Partnerships and Programme Manager, at venicefellowships@britishcouncil.org, to be added to the mailing list for prospective partners.
The Fellowships Programme offers a unique opportunity for emerging creatives and future talents from UK-based organisations to spend a month in Venice. In addition, as part of the British Council’s focus year of collaboration between the UK and Kenya in 2025, we particularly welcome applications for Programme Partners from organisations that have strong links to Kenya, Sub-Saharan Africa and its diaspora.
Join us for an information session to find out more on Thursday, 22nd August 2024, 12pm-1pm BST (contact Sophie Lucas, Venice Partnerships and Programme Manager, at venicefellowships@britishcouncil.org to book).
The deadline for 2025 applications is Friday, 30 August 2024, at 23:59 BST.