Touchstones Rochdale is delighted to be part of the British Council’s Venice Fellowship Programme for the first time. One applicant from the Rochdale area will receive funding to spend a month in Venice during the world’s most important art and architecture biennales.
The Venice Biennale Fellowships Programme is a key part of the British Council’s presence in Venice, supporting the exhibition programme as well as being a platform for the development of new creative careers and future leaders. The fellowship programme sends approximately 70 UK-based students and researchers to the Venice Biennale for one month every year. This year, for the first time, we’re able to offer a place to a creative living and/or working in Rochdale.
As exhibition ambassadors at the British Pavilion, the Fellows enrich and activate the British Council’s exhibition programme. They engage visiting members of the public and expand the impact of the show. Alongside this practical residency, Fellows have the opportunity to develop their own research or practical creative projects and use the Biennale as a platform for artistic and professional development. Through these contributions, Fellows elevate the Pavilion to an important reference point for universities and creative organisations around the world.
What is the Venice Biennale?
Running from May to November each year, alternating between art and architecture, the Venice Biennale began in 1895 and now attracts half a million visitors a year. A celebration of art and architecture, the Biennale explores themes of politics and contemporary cultural and social issues through performance, sculpture and installations.
Find out more
Funding
Fellows receive a grant of £3000 to help support the cost of travel, accommodation and living costs.
Further Information
Please read the Venice Fellowship Programme Guide for detailed information about the programme and to download the application form template. General information about the Venice Fellowship is available on the British Council’s website.
A Q&A session for interested candidates was be held by the British Council on the 19th October.
The session covered:
- Overview of the 2024 Fellowships Programme Application Guidelines.
- Experiences from two 2023 Fellows.
- Support guidance for completing the 2024 application form.
You can view the Q&A session below:
You can view an earlier Q&A session below:
Download a transcript of the session here.
Upcoming Dates
Support for you – Shortlisting Candidates
We will hold two drop-in/voluntary sessions in November for those of you that might like camaraderie and/or technical support as you begin application assessment.
Some Partners will not be undertaking assessment until later in the year, and we’d be pleased to schedule another session then if these prove useful.
Wednesday 15th November – 1:30pm – 2:30pm – Zoom link
Tuesday 21st November – 5pm – 6pm – Zoom link
The Community of Practice
Our Partners’ Community of Practice has begun. Please feel free to join any of the forthcoming sessions and view past sessions. Our next one is on 6th November, 1.30-2.20pm and we will be learning from:
– Jean Wainwright, University for the Creative Arts/Photography on The Case for Diversity artist careers and ecosystems: Venice Art Biennale since 1999
– Jackie Norton with share her University’s experience of supporting their Core Values and EDI agenda in her role at Birmingham City University as Associate Professor and Deputy Director of International Partnerships, Faculty of Arts, Design and Media.
All details are saved in our Google Drive, including zoom links, times, participants and forthcoming topics.
6th December Showcase – 2023 Fellows Our 2023 Fellows will share their experience of the Venice Fellowship and Dancing Before The Moon at this evening (virtual) session.
How to Apply
- Download the application form template from the Programme Guide, or download the form directly here.
- Complete the application form.
- Submit your application by email to bryan.beresford@yourtrustrochdale.co.uk
Creatives living and/or working in Rochdale are eligible. All applicants will be informed of whether or not they have been shortlisted.
Deadline: 11:59 pm, 08 November 2023.
Contacts
Email venicefellowships@britishcouncil.org for general questions about the Fellowship, or email bryan.beresford@yourtrustrochdale.co.uk for details of how to apply.
