Scotland pauses involvement with Venice Biennale

Scotland has paused its involvement with the 2024 edition of the Venice Biennale art exhibition, with a review scheduled to take place to consider options.

A spokesman for the Scotland + Venice partnership, which oversees Scottish involvement, said that in “the present financial and planning environment” it was necessary to “review the current model of delivery” before committing to next year’s art event. 

Scottish involvement in this year’s architecture exhibition in Venice will go ahead as planned.

The spokesman said the review will consider the project’s position “within the wider scope of international opportunities available to Scotland's art and architecture communities”.

“This has been a difficult decision to make, especially given the project's significant achievements over the last 20 years,” he said.

“The decision also acknowledges the impact that the project has on the environment, and the need to consider how it can be delivered more ethically and sustainably into the future.”

Scotland has participated in the biennale since 2003, in part due to the fact that the British pavilion was unable to showcase the range and volume of Scottish and Scotland-based artists working in the contemporary art scene.

The country does not have its own pavilion however, instead staging “collateral” shows on the fringes of the main sites.

The partnership, which involves Creative Scotland, the British Council, National Galleries of Scotland, Architecture & Design Scotland, V&A Dundee and the Scottish Government, has said that Scotland will not be withdrawing from the biennale but will need to find a new model for presenting work there after the review process in completed.