British Council – British Pavilion in Venice

Since the First International Exhibition of Art in 1895 over a thousand artists have represented Britain at the Venice Biennale. The British Council has been responsible for the British presentation at the Venice Biennale since 1937. The British Pavilion is home to exhibitions of British art, and since 1991 also hosts architecture exhibitions in alternate years.

1887 A Café-Restaurant was constructed in 1887 by the chief engineer of the Comune of Venice, Enrico Trevisana, this would later become the British Pavilion

1895 The first year of Venice Biennale

1909 A British committee acquired the Café-Restaurant and the British architect E. A. Rickards managed the conversion of it into the British Pavilion.  The Hungarian and Bavarian (from 1912 the German Pavilion) pavilions were also inaugurated this year

1930 The British Pavilion responsibility was offically transferred to H.M. Government and this year's exhibition was under its patronage for the first time

1932 The exhibition in the British Pavilion was organised by the Department of Overseas Trade

1934  The British Council was established

1937 The responsibility for British participation in the Biennale was officially given to the British Council

1938 The British Council organised the exhibition at the British Pavilion for the first time

1940 The Second World War led to Britain’s withdrawal from the Biennale in 1940, abstention in 1942 and finally the suspension of the Biennale itself in 1944 and 1946. During this time the British Pavilion was taken over by the Italien army, becoming the Padiglione del Regio Escercito (Royal Army Pavilion). A mural decorated the loggia and included imagery of St George, the patron saint of Venice

1980 The inception of the Venice Biennale of Architecture

1991 The British Pavilion is home to the first British exhibition at the Venice Biennale of Architecture  

1994 We commissioned British architects Brooks Murray to renovate the Pavilion, refurbishing the piano nobile and transforming the piano terra to include kitchen, toilet facilities, office and entertainment space. Disabled access was also fitted at this time so we are able to offer dedicated wheelchair access to the Pavilion

2003 Scotland and Wales presented independently for the first time. For more information about the Scotland and Wales presentations please visit their websites
www.scotlandandvenice.com
www.walesvenicebiennale.org

2005 Northern Ireland presented independantly for the first time. For more information visit their website
www.northernirelandvenice.com

2009 For the first time, solo presentations in all four UK pavilions - the British, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - made for the strongest campaign thus far, attracting a record number of visitors and ministerial visits.

2011 Northern Ireland decide not to show at the Venice Biennale