Who can apply

• Only individuals and groups may apply to this opportunity.
• All members of the Artistic Team must be Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents and practicing artists or arts professionals.

Who can’t apply

You can’t apply for this opportunity if:

• you have already applied to this opportunity in a separate proposal within the same application year
• you have an overdue grant report
• you owe money to Creative Australia
• you are an organisation.

Your application must comply with the following protocols. We may contact you to request further information during the assessment process, or if successful, as a condition of your agreement.

Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

All applications involving First Nations artists, communities or subject matter must adhere to these Protocols, provide evidence of this in their application and support material. More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here.

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

All successful applicants are required to comply with all Australian law relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children, including working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Successful organisations who provide services directly to children, or whose investment activities involve contact with children, will additionally be required to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Venice Artist Fellowship

The selected artist/s will receive a Venice Artist Fellowship of $100,000 in total to develop, create, and produce new work for the exhibition in the Australia Pavilion for the Venice Biennale 2028. 

Additional support towards travel and accommodation in Venice will be provided. 

Curatorial Support

The selected curator/s will receive the Venice Curator Fellowship of $50,000 in total to provide curatorial direction for the exhibition, working in collaboration with Creative Australia as the commissioner and producer. 

Additional support towards travel and accommodation in Venice will be provided.

General Support

A project budget covering freight and equipment, fabrication, Pavilion operations and maintenance, install and deinstall, PR and marketing will be managed by Creative Australia as the producer. 

A production budget for the project will be provided only in Stage Two of the application process. 

Application Management System 

To apply you must be registered in Fluxx, Creative Australia’s Application Management System a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.

Assessment Process

Both Stage One and Stage Two proposals are assessed by a panel of independent industry advisors including national and international visual arts experts who have a high-level of knowledge on Australian contemporary art practices. Assessment is conducted using the assessment criteria referenced below. Recommendations are made to Creative Australia in its role as commissioner and decision maker. 

Five shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit a detailed proposal later this year (Stage Two) based on the advice of the assessment panel. The names of the panellists will be published when the successful Artistic Team is publicly announced. Creative Australia is responsible for the final selection of the Artistic Team to present in the Australia Pavilion for the category of National Participation at the Venice Biennale 2028.

The decisions are final, and feedback cannot be provided on submissions not selected for Stage Two.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application and progression to Stage Two approximately 4 weeks after the Stage One closing date.

If you need advice about applying, contact the Creative Australia project team via venice@creative.gov.au.

Application Form

Creative Australia’s application management system, Fluxx, will prompt you to include:

• a title for your proposal (no more than 100 characters)
• an artistic proposal (up to 1000 words) that:
  • summarises your artistic vision and exhibition concept
  • includes the names of the proposed artist/s and curator/s (the Artistic Team). Do not include the names of any technicians, consultants or any other collaborator supporting your proposal. This will be developed at Stage Two.
• mandatory and applicable support material items will be required as attachments (refer below).

Support material 

You must submit support material with your application. The selection panel will review this support material to help them gain a better sense of your proposal. 

Please ensure all support material is attached to the application form as individual PDFs as outlined below. Do not include web links of any form in this application.

We do not accept application-related support material submitted via post. Application-related material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender. If you think you will have difficulty submitting your support material online or need advice on what type of material to submit, please contact the Creative Australia project team.

There are four types of support material you must submit as attachments:

1. Curriculum Vitae - Mandatory

• A maximum two (2) page per individual (artists and curators), A4 PDF document titled: titleofproposal_CV_VeniceBiennale2028
• Minimum font size must be 11pt, sans serif.
• This document should include a short bio of each member of the Artistic Team. Illustrate relevant experience and practice achievements of each member. This document should demonstrate a track record of exhibition history and previous examples of collaboration between the artist(s) and curator(s) listed in this submission. 
   

2. Indicative Visuals of Proposed New Work - Mandatory

• Up to 3 indicative visuals (any format) in an A4 PDF document titled: titleofproposal_proposednewwork_VeniceBiennale2028
• Minimum font size must be 11pt, sans serif.
• This document should include up to three (3) images of your proposed new work. 
   

3. Examples of Previous Work - Mandatory

• A maximum four (4) pages per artist, A4 PDF document titled: titleofproposal_previouswork_VeniceBiennale2028
• Minimum font size must be 11pt, sans serif.
• This document should include up to 10 images of previous work/exhibition documentation and brief overview text of previous work. 
   

4. Letter of support from galleries and employer(s) - If applicable

• An in-principal letter of support from your representing galleries and employer(s) (where applicable), confirming their support, and acknowledging the time commitment and resources required to deliver an international presentation of this scale, and any additional information that you believe may be relevant.
• If you are not affiliated with a commercial gallery, or are employed independently, you do not need to submit this letter.

Your Stage One application should introduce your artistic proposal in response to the three assessment criteria. This is an opportunity to outline your ideas with clarity and intent, demonstrating how your proposal engages with the criteria at a conceptual level.

You are not required to respond to every individual bullet point directly; rather, you should focus on presenting a coherent and compelling proposal that addresses the assessment criteria in a concise and considered way.

First Criterion | Quality

The selection panel will assess the quality of the artistic proposal. They will consider:

• the strength and clarity of the artistic vision and rationale
• innovation, ambition, and experimentation of the proposed artwork
• the track record of the artist’s practice, including national and international recognition of previous work.

Second Criterion | Viability

The selection panel will assess the viability of the artistic proposal. They will consider:

• Skills, experience and suitability of artist/s and curator/s involved.

Third Criterion | Alignment

The selection panel will assess: 

• the artistic proposal’s relevance to contemporary art discourse both in Australia and internationally
• the timeliness and artistic or cultural significance of the artistic proposal.

For Stage Two, shortlisted applicants must provide four required support material items and one optional item as outlined below. This must be submitted via your original Stage One application through the Application Management System. Do not include web links of any form in this application.

All submissions should be minimum font size 11, sans serif.

There are five (5) types of support material you must submit.

1. Expanded artistic proposal

• Maximum 15 A4 pages titled: titleofproposal_artisticproposal_VeniceBiennale2028
• Statement of intent (why this proposal is particularly suited to the Australia Pavilion within the context of the Venice Biennale 2028).
• Exhibition rationale including artistic vision and exhibition concept.
• Outline of proposed artworks (mediums, outline of content, approximate dimensions).
• Visuals of your exhibition concept.
• Outline of any supplementary equipment, locations, or other requirements you may need to realise the exhibition proposal.
• Outline of the audience engagement approach to the exhibition (how the proposal will be staged and sustained over the vernissage period and over the duration of the Venice Biennale) including any public programs.
• Where an Artistic Team includes multiple artists or curators provide an outline on how the collaboration will function. This should include the type of contribution each member will be making, how the collaboration will be managed, what considerations will be in place to mitigate any issues that arise, etc.
• Outline any collaborators including all roles and responsibilities. Consideration must be given to technical, fabrication or creative collaborators that would support the development and delivery of the presentation. This should also include preferred creative design partners (if identified) to support the brand identity, creative assets and associated publication.
• Consider in your response how this opportunity will impact the artist/s’ career.
   

2. Curatorial rationale

• A maximum two (2) page, A4 PDF document titled: titleofproposal_curatorialstatement_VeniceBiennale2028
• Minimum font size must be 11pt, sans serif.
• This document should articulate the curatorial rationale and approach and contextualise the artist's practice within contemporary art discourse in Australia and/or internationally.
   

3. Production budget response

• A single A4 page titled: titleofproposal_productionbudget_VeniceBiennale2028
• This must respond in detail to the overall production parameters of the proposal, including research, testing, development, production and freight considerations.
• This template will be supplied by Creative Australia.
• Project budgets will be shared at Stage Two.
• The proposal must include the following production considerations:
  • all fabrication and programming aspects of the artistic proposal should be accounted for, including collaborator or engagement fees, consultants, and materials, with a detailed breakdown outlining development, fabrication, public programming, and design, including publication and collateral
  • any equipment required during fabrication or presentation of the exhibition should be clearly identified and planned for
  • arrangements for the transport of works, including return freight, should be specified.
  • travel requirements for the Artistic Team should be outlined, including flights, ground transport, accommodation, insurances, and allowances, as well as provision for at least one site visit prior to the opening
  • where the Artistic Team consists of more than one artist or curator, the agreed distribution of fellowships must be clearly outlined.
     
• Additional budget considerations:
  • the production budget items outlined above are not negotiable and the successful applicant must deliver the exhibition within this budget
  • the overall project budget will be managed by Creative Australia as the producer of the Venice Biennale project. The project budget incorporates expenditure against the production of the exhibition (freight, equipment hire, fabrication, install and deinstall), PR and marketing, exhibition collateral, and publication as well as Australia Pavilion operations and maintenance.
     

4. Project production timeline

• Maximum three A4 pages titled: titleofproposal_productiontimeline_VeniceBiennale2028
• Must include a high-level development and project timeline which includes a commitment statement from each member of the Artistic Team to prioritise participation in the project as per the minimum requirements outlined below:
  • February – March 2027: 2 days a week
  • April – December 2027: 1/2 day a week (pending production approach)
  • January 2028 – March 2028: 2/3 days a week (pending production approach)
  • April 2028: 5 days a week
  • May – November 2028: 1/2 day a week
• The Artistic Team will need to confirm ability to commit to and prioritise the Venice Biennale project during the period February 2027 to May 2028, which includes a reconnaissance visit to Venice by early April 2027 (one week), installation of the exhibition and the vernissage week in April and May 2028 (up to four weeks).
• The Artistic Team must also confirm their willingness to participate in activities, media interviews, and supporter events for the project arranged by Creative Australia such as professional development, Cultural Mediation Program and Biennale Delegates Program selection panels, supporters tours and regular (scheduled and as needed) communications and engagement/meetings with Creative Australia. This may include interstate travel. Note that Creative Australia will provide media training.
   

5. Contingency and risk management statement

• Single A4 page risk assessment of your proposal titled: titleofproposal_riskassessment_VeniceBiennale2028
• This template will be supplied by Creative Australia.
• This should outline identified areas or risk related to your proposal and the project and how you intend to mitigate them across development and presentation.

If you are shortlisted for Stage Two, your application is expected to expand on the same assessment criteria introduced in Stage One, using this as an opportunity to further develop your ideas with greater depth, clarity, and critical engagement. The Artistic Proposal should address the three assessment criteria, but you are not required to respond to every individual bullet point directly; rather you should focus on building on your Stage One submission to more fully articulate how your proposal engages with the criteria.

Expanded First Criterion | Quality       

The panel will assess the quality of the artistic proposal. They will consider:

• the strength and clarity of the artistic vision and rationale
• the level of innovation, ambition, and experimentation of the proposed artwork
• the track record of the artist’s practice, including national and international recognition of previous work
• significance of the work within the relevant area of practice and/or community
• the potential for engagement with audiences and accessibility.

Expanded Second Criterion | Viability

The panel will assess the viability of the artistic proposal. They will consider:

• the skills, experience and suitability of artist/s and curator/s involved
• the feasibility of the artistic proposal, including budget, risk identification, production logistics, and timelines. Where relevant to the artistic proposal, evidence that the Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to
• the role of collaborators, participants, assistants, and/or cultural consultants, including confirmation of their involvement and inclusion in the budget
• evidence of appropriate or intended consultation with participants, audiences or communities
• evidence that the proposal addresses the environmental impact of realising the project.

Expanded Third Criterion | Alignment

The panel will assess the timeliness of the artistic proposal. They will consider:

• the artistic proposal’s relevance to contemporary art discourse across Australian and international contexts
• the timeliness and artistic or cultural significance of the artistic proposal.

The successful Artistic Team will enter into a formal agreement with Creative Australia, which will outline the scope of the commission, roles and responsibilities, key deliverables, and reporting requirements.

Funding will be provided to support the development and delivery of the project. Payment arrangements (including instalments linked to agreed milestones) will be specified in the funding agreement.

Creative Australia will coordinate all public announcements in consultation with the successful Artistic Team. An embargo will apply until the official announcement is made, and recipients will be required to maintain confidentiality until this time.

The successful Artistic Team will work closely with Creative Australia, who will act as commissioner and producer of the Australia Pavilion presentation. This includes collaboration across curatorial development, production, partnerships, communications, and audience engagement.

Recipients will be expected to actively contribute to the development and realisation of the project, participate in key meetings and milestone reviews, and engage with partners, stakeholders, and audiences as required in order to support a positive and inclusive experience for all involved in the project and audiences.

Artistic proposals may use both the internal gallery space of the Pavilion and selected external areas. 

The Pavilion features the following external elements, which subject to La Biennale approval, may or may not be used:

• hanging rail along the roofline for hanging of lightweight material (for example, banners or lightweight cloth) to cover the black granite exterior
• an external element may be possible on the deck at the entrance of the Pavilion. 

If you are intending to use the Pavilion in another manner, or your proposal includes an offsite component, we encourage you to contact the Creative Australia project team prior to submission via venice@creative.gov.au.

You can download the floor plan and images of the Australia Pavilion here:

• Internal – exhibition gallery
• Internal – view of the canal from exhibition gallery
• Internal – entry and vestibule
• External – entry and ramp access
• Floor plan