A fully funded fellowship and month-long residency at The Venice Biennale as part of the 2026 Venice Fellowships Programme.
Open Call For NXT GEN Members
Application Deadline: November 21st 2025
The Venice Biennale
Saturday 9 May to Sunday 22 November 2026
The Venice Biennale is one of the world’s biggest and most important international art and culture events. It takes place every two years in Venice oscillating between the art and architecture and has been running since 1895.
Images courtesy of British Council.
Think of it like a giant showcase of what’s happening in art today. Countries from all over the world present their own exhibitions - often in national pavilions located in the two main exhibition locations, the Giardini and the Arsenale. They are also spread throughout the city along with riveting auxiliary exhibitions and events.
At its core, the Biennale is a meeting point: artists, curators, critics, and visitors from around the globe come together to experience and discuss the latest in culture.
NXT GEN has partnered with the British Council to support a month-long fully funded residency at Biennale Arte in Venice between May and November 2026
Fellows spend half their time working at the British Pavilion, acting as Exhibition Ambassadors and interacting with visitors and supporting the exhibition. The other half of the time spent in Venice is dedicated to their own independent research or creative project, inspired by the Biennale and Venice.
Fellows receive a grant of £3,300 to help support travel, accommodation and living costs. They also receive full training by the British Council, as well as mentorship and support from NXT GEN co-director Alexandra Steinacker-Clark, prior to beginning their Fellowship.
Fellowship Details
Eligibility
1) Become a member of NXT GEN HERE
2) Read the programme guide APPLICATION GUIDELINE
3) Fill in the APPLICATION FORM
4) Fill in the optional Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form
5) Submit your the application form and your CV to nxtgen@awita.london. Please use the subject line “Venice Fellowship 2026 Application - First Name, Surname”
The deadline is Friday 21st November midnight.
No previous arts experience or higher education is required.
Applicants must be 18 or older.
Please review the British Council requirements in the guide provided below.
NXT GEN membership (current or new) required
- We are exclusively fundraising this Fellowship for a NXT GEN Member. If you are new, we ask that you commit to a 1-year NXT GEN membership. Behind the scenes, this fellowship takes real time and resources to deliver and membership is how we make it sustainable.
- Membership gives you access to our events, resources, and a network designed to support your professional development (Learn more about membership benefits here)
- Membership is £120 per year. If cost is a concern, please reach out - we have a limited number of shorter-term memberships and alternative payment plans available.
How to Apply
Support
The British Council are hosting two Zoom Q&A sessions to answer any questions you may have:
Option 1
Monday 20th October 2025, 12pm-1pm BST Register Here
Option 2
Wednesday 19th November 2025, 12pm-1pm GMT Register Here
Please contact us at nxtgen@awita.london with any questions.