Venice Biennale

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Venice Biennale

The Venice Biennale (Italian: Biennale di Venezia) is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years (in odd years) in Venice, Italy. The Biennale is one of the most prestigious cultural events in the world and has a long history dating back to its inception in 1895.

History

The Venice Biennale was established in 1895 by the Venetian City Council to celebrate the silver anniversary of King Umberto I and Margherita of Savoy. The first exhibition was held in the Giardini della Biennale, a public garden in Venice. Over the years, the Biennale has expanded to include various other disciplines, including architecture, cinema, dance, music, and theatre.

Structure

The Venice Biennale is organized into several sections:

• The International Art Exhibition, which features works by artists from around the world.
• The National Pavilions, where individual countries present their own exhibitions.
• The Collateral Events, which are organized by non-profit organizations and take place throughout Venice.

Venues

The primary venues for the Venice Biennale are the Giardini della Biennale and the Arsenale. The Giardini hosts the Central Pavilion and 29 national pavilions, while the Arsenale provides additional exhibition space.

Notable Editions

Some of the most notable editions of the Venice Biennale include:

• The 1930 edition, which introduced the first national pavilions.
• The 1964 edition, where Robert Rauschenberg became the first American artist to win the Grand Prize.
• The 1990 edition, which saw the introduction of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

Awards

The Venice Biennale awards several prestigious prizes, including:

• The Golden Lion for best national participation.
• The Silver Lion for promising young artists.
• The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

Related Events

The Venice Biennale has inspired several other biennial exhibitions around the world, including the São Paulo Art Biennial and the Whitney Biennial.

See Also

• Documenta
• Art Basel
• Frieze Art Fair
• Biennale of Sydney
• Berlin Biennale