Organizer Information
Inaugurated in 2021 by Emanuela Fadalti and Matilde Cadenti, Spazio Berlendis bridges Venice’s rich cultural legacy with contemporary artistic experimentation. Operating out of a meticulously restored 18th-century shipyard—formerly the historic Fassi boatyard—in the Cannaregio district, the 300-square-meter venue regularly hosts prestigious international events, including official collateral exhibitions for the Venice Biennale. This prize is promoted by the cultural association Kosmos Contemporary Venice APS alongside the contemporary gallery Marignana Arte.
Title & Description
Berlendis Venice Art Prize 2027: Have We Crossed the Threshold?
The second edition of the Berlendis Venice Art Prize invites international artists to engage critically with the conceptual theme: Have We Crossed the Threshold? A Journey Beyond Borders, Identities and Languages. This open call frames the act of crossing as an aesthetic, political, and existential inquiry—exploring physical or symbolic passages, shifting memories, and the fluid spaces where distinct media and cultures intersect. An esteemed panel of art-world professionals will select a total of 20 finalists to showcase their work in a major group exhibition at Spazio Berlendis in Venice. The project serves as an active platform for creative dialogue, culminating in the announcement of major cash grants and long-term exhibition opportunities with prominent European galleries.
Categories
The award recognizes a broad selection of contemporary practices, specifically accepting submissions within Painting, Drawing, Printmaking/Graphic Arts, Photography, Collage, Sculpture, Installation, Textile Art, and Video Art.
Eligibility
- Nationality & Location: Completely open to creators from all countries and backgrounds globally.
- Age Divisions: The prize splits applicants into two explicit structural cohorts:
- Emergent: Artists aged 18 to 30 (must not have turned 31 by the closing date).
- Contemporary: Artists aged 30 and older, carrying no upper age limit.
- Exhibition Constraints: One original artwork submission per applicant. Two-dimensional works must remain under 200x200 cm; three-dimensional pieces must fit within 150x150x150 cm. The maximum weight allowed for any physical piece is 20 kg. Video works must span between 1 and 15 minutes in length.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Main Cash Grants: One winner from the Contemporary track receives a €2,500 gross cash prize; the selected Emergent winner receives a €1,000 gross cash prize (works remain the sole property of the artists).
- Venetian Group Showcase: The 20 selected finalists will participate in a physical group exhibition at Spazio Berlendis from February 20 to March 21, 2027.
- Archival Publication: Inclusion in a professionally designed exhibition catalog, with a free copy provided to every finalist.
- 5 Special Exhibition Prizes: Selected finalists will be chosen for independent solo or group exhibitions during 2027 at prestigious spaces including Marignana Project (Venice), Fondazione THE BANK ETS (Bassano del Grappa), Galleria Alessandro Casciaro (Bolzano/Venice), and Spazio Magazzino.
Application Fee
The entry registration fee is scaled according to the applicant's designated section to offset administrative and jury costs:
- Emergent Entry Fee: €25.00
- Contemporary Entry Fee: €35.00 - Fees must be paid online via the secure Stripe gateway during form completion. All fees are non-refundable.
Application Requirements
Artists must fill out the institutional registration form in full and provide a single, active, password-free cloud storage link (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer) containing the following dossier files:
- Identification: A high-quality scan of both sides of a valid government-issued identity card or passport.
- Professional Portfolio: A single PDF document spanning 4 to 10 pages outlining past artistic context (Maximum file size: 10 MB).
- Artwork Images: Three high-resolution images of the proposed entry work in JPEG or PNG format at 300 dpi (Max 2 MB per image). Video artists must provide an MP4 or MOV file in Full HD resolution.
How to Apply
All entries must be submitted through the official electronic form found on the organizer websites. Portfolios delivered via email, social media channels, or dropped off physically at the Venetian gallery will not be accepted.
- Application Link: Spazio Berlendis Official Open Call Portal
Key Dates
- Application Submission Deadline: September 24, 2026, at 11:59 PM CET
- Finalist Notification Date: By December 10, 2026 (via direct email communication)
- Artwork Shipping Window: January 26 – January 29, 2027
- Finalists' Exhibition Run: February 20 – March 21, 2027
- Prize Winner Announcement: February 20, 2027 (Opening day of the exhibition)
- Artwork Collection/Dismantling Window: March 23 – March 26, 2027
Location
The physical finalist exhibition and award ceremony will take place live in Italy at: Spazio Berlendis, Venice, Italy
Additional Details
All inbound and outbound transportation logistics, fine art crating, custom clearance fees, and comprehensive transit/venue insurance are the sole financial responsibility of the participating artists. Video artists must provide all of their own structural technical hardware—including monitors, specific media players, cables, or headphones—required to install their video work inside the gallery.