Culture Ireland, in partnership with the Arts Council, has issued an open call for the appointment of the Commissioner for the 14th Architecture Biennale in Venice in 2014. The Commissioner will manage and deliver the installation for next year’s Biennale, and a tour of the exhibition in Ireland following the Biennale.
The International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia - is the world’s most important international showcase for architecture and represents a unique opportunity to present and promote some of the very best of Irish architecture.
Culture Ireland and the Arts Council are supporting Ireland's participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale, which aims to increase opportunities for Irish architects abroad. As well as serving as a global showcase for architecture, the Biennale allows Irish architects engage with international audiences, showcase their work, and influence future trends.
“While the situation for Irish architects has been difficult in recent times, initiatives such as the Venice Biennale are hugely important for Ireland and Irish architects, who continue to have a high reputation in the expanding global marketplace" said Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
"The Arts Council is proud to support Ireland's representation at the Venice Architecture Biennale once again in 2014. Ireland's architects continue to gain enormous recognition on the international stage, bringing much attention to the dynamism of architectural and cultural practices in Ireland." said Pat Moylan, Chairman of the Arts Council.
Last year was a particularly strong year for Irish architectural practices at Venice. Ireland's National Representation at the Biennale in 2012 - heneghan peng - ‘Shifting Ground (Beyond National Architecture)’ proved immensely popular with a record number of visitors and a positive critical reaction at the Biennale, which ran from August 27th to November 25th.
At the heart of the exhibit, which was coordinated for Ireland by Commissioner, Elizabeth Francis, and Curator, John McLaughlin, was the idea that contemporary Irish architecture has a global identity and a reach far beyond Ireland. The exhibition was one of 55 national pavilions. More than 178,000 visitors, including thousands of students from around the world, visited the Biennale in 2012.
Grafton Architects – also supported by Culture Ireland - won the prestigious Silver Lion for most promising practice, in a remarkable achievement, on the Biennale theme of ‘Common Ground’. Three more Irish architectural practices - O’Donnell + Tuomey, Clancy Moore and Boyd Cody - also presented at Venice. Grafton Architects and O’Donnell + Tuomey were chosen by the Director of the Biennale to feature in the exhibition’s notable international curator’s programme, while Clancy Moore Architects featured in the Backstage Architecture exhibition and book, a show presenting work by 56 architects under the age of 40, selected from around the globe. Boyd Cody were invited to contribute to the Greek Pavilion.
Audiences at home will have the chance to experience the exciting exhibition by heneghan peng ‘Shifting Ground’ when it is on display in Dublin in May this year.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest for 2014 is 5pm on 4 March 2013. Details can be found on: http://www.cultureireland.ie/ and http://www.artscouncil.ie/
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Note:
The term “Commissioner” is used informally in this brief to designate the author/s of the proposal. Proposals are invited from an individual, collective, or organisation with the knowledge and skill to manage and deliver a presentation appropriate to the context of the Venice Biennale. The Commissioner for the Irish presentation will be chosen on the strength of skills including organisational capacity and the ability to meet the criteria.