Organizer Information
The commissioning authority is the Republic of Austria, represented by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS), specifically its Art and Culture Section. The ministry is responsible for the strategic development, funding, and international representation of Austrian contemporary art and cultural production.
The Austrian participation in the Venice Biennale is one of the country’s most significant recurring cultural commissions. It is staged within the Austrian Pavilion located in the Giardini della Biennale in Venice, a historic exhibition zone that hosts national contributions to the Venice Biennale. The Austrian Pavilion itself, built in 1934, is a protected architectural monument under Italian heritage law and has long served as a key platform for Austrian contemporary art internationally.
Title & Description
Project Competition for the Curatorial Concept and Realisation of the Austrian Contribution to the 62nd International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale 2028
This open call invites experienced curators and art professionals to develop a comprehensive curatorial concept for Austria’s official contribution to the 62nd Venice Biennale (2028 edition). The selected proposal will be responsible for both conceptual development and full exhibition realization within the Austrian Pavilion.
The competition is explicitly aimed at producing an internationally relevant exhibition that contributes to current discourses in contemporary art while maintaining strong relevance to Austrian artistic production and context. The curatorial approach should be conceptually rigorous, structurally feasible, and capable of operating within a significant international cultural framework.
Due to timing constraints, the selected concept will initially be developed independently of the yet-to-be-announced overarching Biennale theme, though alignment may be incorporated later if relevant.
The Role Overview
- Role Type: Curatorial commission (contract for work and services)
- Contracting Authority: Republic of Austria (BMWKMS)
- Curator Fee: EUR 30,000 (gross, inclusive of all taxes and duties)
- Total Project Budget: Up to EUR 600,000 (inclusive of all taxes and costs)
- Budget Breakdown Includes:
- Curatorial fee
- Organizational office support (~EUR 129,000)
- Production, installation, press, publication, opening events
- Press and communication services
- Funding Model: Additional external sponsorship and co-financing (regional, municipal, private) may be required and is the responsibility of the selected curator
- Reporting Structure: The curator works in close coordination with a federally appointed organizational office responsible for logistics, budget control, and production support
Position & Tasks
- Developing a full curatorial concept for Austria’s national pavilion presentation
- Designing an exhibition framework suitable for the Austrian Pavilion’s spatial and architectural constraints
- Leading artistic selection and conceptual direction of participating artists/projects
- Overseeing production planning and implementation in coordination with the organizational office
- Managing budget allocation within the €600,000 framework
- Developing a communication and mediation strategy (public engagement, press, outreach)
- Ensuring sustainability principles are integrated into all stages of production
- Coordinating exhibition catalogue production and publication strategy
- Supervising press events, opening ceremony, and public-facing programming
- Engaging with potential sponsors and external funding partners
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Contemporary Visual Art
- Installation Art
- Multimedia / Video Art
- Performance Art
- Spatial / Exhibition Design
- Interdisciplinary Art Practices
- Cultural Programming
- Art Theory / Critical Studies
Eligibility
- Be Austrian citizens OR have permanent residence in Austria
- Be professionally active as curators or in an art-related field
- Demonstrate strong international experience in contemporary art contexts
- Have established networks within the Austrian and international art scene
- Be capable of managing large-scale institutional cultural projects
- Work collaboratively with production teams and institutional stakeholders
International curators without Austrian residency are not eligible under current conditions.
Program Benefits
- Curatorial commission fee: EUR 30,000
- Full production budget up to EUR 600,000 for exhibition realization
- Dedicated organizational office funded by BMWKMS
- Access to one of the most prestigious international exhibition platforms globally
- Opportunity to present work at the Austrian Pavilion in Venice
- Professional international visibility and institutional recognition
- Financial support for selected shortlisted applicants (EUR 2,500 concept development allowance)
- Inclusion in a highly competitive international jury selection process
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Submissions must be in German and submitted as a single PDF (max. 19 MB). Required materials include:
- Exhibition title
- Concept summary (A4 page)
- Full curatorial concept description (max. 7 pages, including process, structure, team)
- Sustainability concept (max. 1 page)
- Budget outline and financing/sponsorship strategy (max. 2 pages)
- Visual materials (sketches, diagrams, references)
- CVs of the applicant and collaborators
- Portfolio/reference projects
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted electronically via email to: biennale2028@bmwkms.gv.at
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 21 August 2026
- Final Selection Announcement: Expected December 2026
- Exhibition Period: Venice Biennale 2028 (April/May – November 2028, exact dates to be announced)
Location
- Primary exhibition site: Austrian Pavilion (Giardini della Biennale)
- Administrative location: Vienna, Austria (contract jurisdiction)
Additional Details
- The selection process is structured in three stages: longlist → shortlisted presentations → final jury decision
- Shortlisted applicants receive a €2,500 development fee
- The curator holds full artistic responsibility for realization within budget constraints
- Strong emphasis is placed on sustainability, including materials reuse, transport reduction, and ecological exhibition design
- The organizing office provides logistical, administrative, and production support but does not replace curatorial responsibility
- All submissions are treated confidentially and protected under copyright law
- Legal framework: Austrian public procurement law (BVergG 2018, direct award procedure)
- Evaluation emphasizes artistic quality, innovation, feasibility, mediation strategy, and budget realism