There are plenty of reasons to find a vacation rental in Venice or to find a villa in Veneto and plan day trips into the city as it stands but every second year there is one more excellent incentive to head to the famous city of canals: the Biennale Arte. This is a massive festival of art, design, and performance that sees artists and countries from all over the globe come to exhibit their creations throughout the city, transforming all of Venice into one massive and fascinating art gallery. For serious art-lovers, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to tick off your bucket list or a regular indulgence depending on your inclination and means but it is certainly worth experiencing for yourself if you get the chance.
Every two years on the odd year (changed from the even due to the cancellation of events in 2020 so that it took place last year, in 2021) there is the Venice Biennale of Architecture and every two years on the even year (similarly changed from the odd, so that it is being held this year, in 2022) there is the Biennale Arte which involves art exhibits and each year there is also a Biennale dance festival, music festival, theatre festival, and the Venice Film Festival. All of these events are run by the Biennale Foundation that was established in 2009 to oversee everything. This year, the Venice Biennale’s 59th International Art Exhibition will take place from the 23rd of April 2022 to the 27th of November 2022.
Curated by Cecilia Alemani, the first Italian woman to hold the position and the past curator of the Italian Pavilion at the Biennale Arte in 2017, the invited artists whose work will be exhibited this year include Noor Abuarafeh (born 1986 in Jerusalem), Igshaan Adams (born in 1982 in Cape Town), Eileen Agar (born in 1899 in Buenos Aires and died in 1991 in London), Özlem Altın (born in 1977 in Goch, Germany) Marina Apollonio (born in 1940 in Trieste), Josephine Baker (born in 1906 in Saint Louis in the USA and died in 1975 in Paris), Louise Bonnet (born in 1970 in Geneva), Ibrahim El-Salahi (born 1930 in Omdurman), Geumhyung Jeong (born in 1980 in Seoul), Charlotte Johannesson (born in 1943 in Malmö), Tetsumi Kudo (born in 1935 in Osaka and died in 1990 in Tokyo), LuYang (born in 1984 in Shanghai), Tourmaline (born in 1983 in Boston, USA), and around 200 other creatives.
In addition to this, eighty different countries will be participating in the festivals and presenting their own thematic exhibitions at the pavilions in the Giardini, the Arsenale, the Forte Marghera, and various other gallery and art spaces throughout the city. A wide array of other exhibitions, talks, performances, workshops, conferences, and more will be held throughout the festival and the city, with endless opportunities for things to see and do on top of the already abundant cultural attractions of Venice. If you just can’t get enough art then it really is the ideal time to plan that getaway in Veneto or that vacation in Italy and to organise a trip to Venice!
Opening hours for the Giardini, Arsenale, Forte Marghera (please note that events in the different galleries and private spaces throughout the city will have their own opening hours):
From the 23rd of April to the 25th of September, 11am to 7pm.
From the 27th of September to the 27th of November, 10am to 6pm.
The Arsenale will remain open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays (until the 25th of September, with last admission at 7:45pm)
Closed on Mondays (except Monday the 25th of April, 30th of May, 27th of June, 25th of July, 15th of August, 5th of September, 19th of September, 31st of October, and the 21st of November).
Tickets:
Full price - €25
Concession - €20 (for those over 65)
Students and/or those under 26 - €16 (a valid ID or student card is required at the entrance)