Open call for collaborative team for Architecture Biennale 2025
Tuesday 31 October 2023

British Council looking to appoint UK-Kenya architectural practitioner team

The British Council commission at the Venice Architecture Biennale aims to create debate that both challenges and influences the future of British and global architecture.

The 2023 exhibition, Dancing Before the Moon, was awarded a Special Mention for National Participation at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.

Now looking ahead to 2025, the 19th International Architecture Exhibition Venice Biennale continues to present a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate the UK’s strength in cross-cultural collaboration, architecture and architectural thinking.

Open call:

  • The British Council now seeks to appoint a collaborative UK-Kenya architectural practitioner team to develop and deliver an exhibition in the British Pavilion in Venice
  • The practitioner team can consist of architects, exhibition designers, curators, educators, researchers, or have another design or built environment background, but they must be experienced in exhibition development and delivery
  • The 2025 British Pavilion exhibition will be a high-profile installation as part of a British Council year of collaboration between the UK and Kenya which will foster, celebrate and showcase the connections between the two countries
  • The British Council particularly welcomes proposals from practitioner teams where the UK partner is based outside of Greater London in England or based in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
  • The team will be looking for proposals which inspire new perspectives in contemporary architecture and the role of the built environment in addressing global challenges
  • The successful proposal will put forward a compelling narrative, present a clear exhibition design concept and can be delivered within the agreed budget.
  • The proposal for the British Council Commission must demonstrate and communicate the concept with impact and clarity and have the flexibility to be experienced both physically and digitally by a global and diverse audience

The closing date for the open call is 5 January 2024 at 23:59 GMT

Sevra Davis, Director of Architecture Design and Fashion at the British Council said:

‘Exhibiting at the British Pavilion is an exciting and prestigious opportunity for architects and creative professionals to explore ideas, challenges and opportunities affecting the built environment in the UK and around the world. This year, we are excited to be encouraging collaboration between the UK and Kenya to explore the connection between these two countries and to promote working collectively. We actively encourage a wide range of courageous and innovative proposals from architectural practitioners from all around the UK.’

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Colette.baillie@britishcouncil.org

Notes to Editor

Please note, as per Lesley Lokko’s wording as the curator for the Architecture Biennale 2023, the word ‘practitioners’ has been used in this open call rather than ‘architects’ and/or ‘designers’ to encourage different and broader understanding of the term architect

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language.  We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people
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