Venice Biennale

The Venice Biennale is a myriad of things. It’s a place, a venue for artistic exhibitions. It’s a foundation that sponsors art, culture, and education in Venice. And it is also a biennial international art exhibition that is one of the best in the world. This proliferation of names and activities can sometimes confuse visitors, so it’s best to take them one at a time.

The Biennale venues

While Biennale-sponsored events take place at a variety of venues throughout the city, it is most closely associated with two primary venues:

The Giardini della Biennale: These gardens were originally the work of Napoleon Bonaparte, who reclaimed the land from the water to create a formal garden. In 1895, the first Venice International Art Exhibition was held in these gardens. In 1907, the first of a series of permanent pavilions were erected, each designed by and dedicated to the country that was exhibiting there. Today, there are 29 pavilions in the garden, many designed by some of the best architects of the past century, and, even when there isn’t an exhibition in progress, the gardens have themselves become a fascinating architectural museum.

The Arsenale: The Arsenale, as the name implies, is the site where the ships were constructed to furnish Venice’s legendary navy and ships for maritime trade. From the time of the Republic of Venice in 1100 through to fall to Napoleon in 1797, the Arsenale was crucial to the military and economic life of Venice. In 1980, the Arsenale became an exhibition site for the Venice Biennale, and is of historic importance in its own right.

The Biennale Events

The Venice International Film Festival: This annual film festival is the oldest in the world, and one of the dominating triad of prestigious international festivals, along with Cannes and Berlin. Held in late August every year, the best filmmakers around the world gather on the red carpet to participate in this incredible event. In 2018, the festival turns 75 years old, so it is a particularly special year. 

For visitors: There are screenings and events that are open to the public, although many events are exclusive to accredited visitors. Ticket information is released 2 months before the festival opens. And worthy of note, 
while organized by the Biennale, the film festival actually takes place on Lido Island rather than at the Art & Architecture venues.

The Art Biennale: The International Art Exhibition occurs in odd-numbered years, and typically runs all summer, from May-November. It is staged at the Giardini and Arsenale and also at several other venues throughout the city. The 2017 edition featured 120 artists and 86 nations, and featured all kinds of art as well as talks, projects, workshops, and more.

For visitors: During the Art Biennale, there are a variety of ticket options, from one day long to permanent passes good for the duration of the exhibition, with discounts for residents of Venice. In 2017, regular adult prices ranged from 25-80€.

The Architecture Biennale: In even-numbered years, the Biennale hosts an architecture exhibition. Staged mostly at the Giardini and Arsenale, along with other venues in the city, the 2018 program features 71 architects and 65 countries. It takes place from May-November, and also includes talks, screenings, and conferences. This year has a strong emphasis on education, in the form of guided tours and workshops.

For visitors: A full-price adult ticket is 25€, and gains one admission to each venue, including non-consecutive days. However, for just 30€, you can get a 2 day pass and visit venues multiple times.

Everything else

The Biennale also hosts festivals for dance, music, and theater. They have archives, collections, and a library. They give tours, host workshops, and have an active online video channel. In other words, no matter when you visit Venice, if you have an interest in the arts, the Biennale has a festival, event, or exhibition that would appeal to you. This far-reaching organization has been making Venice a glittering center of art and culture for over a century, and shows no sign of slowing down.

{{cta(‘4c173913-737a-408b-a182-33d9e792580f’)}}