Northumbria is delighted to be part of the British Council’s Venice Fellowship Programme. Two fellowships will be awarded from Northumbria University to receive funding to spend a month in Venice during the world’s most important art and architecture biennales.
The following departments will be supporting the 2025 fellowships:
We are proud to have partnered with the British Council to be part of the Venice Fellowships Programme, a scheme which activates and enriches world-renowned exhibitions at the Venice Biennale. The Fellowships Programme is a key part of the British Council’s presence in Venice, supporting the exhibition programme as well as being a platform for the development of new creative careers and future leaders. The Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for emerging creatives from Northumbria to represent the UK on an international level whilst broadening their perspective, making connections and developing their creative practice.
The Fellowships Programme enables participants to spend a month in Venice as exhibition ambassadors at the British Pavilion, enriching and activating the British Council’s exhibition programme. They will engage through their practice with visiting members of the public and expand the impact of the show. Alongside this practical residency, Fellows have the opportunity to develop their own research and practice and use the Biennale as a platform for creative and professional development. Through these contributions, Fellows elevate the Pavilion to an important reference point for universities and creative organisations around the world.
The fellowship programme sends UK-based students and researchers to the Venice Biennale for one month every year. Two fellowship places are available to Northumbria University. 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 fellows being able to develop or exhibit their own independent research or creative project, inspired by the Biennale and Venice.
Full details are available from the Venice Fellowship Programme Guide.
Fellows receive a grant of £3300 to help support the cost of travel, accommodation and living costs.
The fellowship programme will be open to Early Career Researchers and PhD students. Applicants should discuss their proposals with their line manager or PGR Lead.
Please note: places are exceptionally limited and we anticipate that competition will be strong. The University would welcome applications from all backgrounds, students are asked to take the time to submit serious (rather than speculative or rushed) applications and discuss with relevant Department Leads.
Please also read the British Council requirements set out in their guide (available below).
1. Download the application form template from the Programme Guide.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Submit your application via email to: venice@northumbria.ac.uk
This fellowship scheme has been especially developed for Early Career Researchers + PhD students.
Deadline: 11:59 pm, 06 December 2024.
Please note: places are exceptionally limited and we anticipate that competition will be strong. The University would welcome applications from all backgrounds, applicants are asked to take the time to submit serious (rather than speculative or rushed) applications and discuss with relevant Department/School Lead or your Head of Department/School.
In the interest of fairness, late applications will not be accepted.
Emails and submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.
A two-stage selection process will be carried out. Firstly, a department panel, composed of members from the Department and Director of Research, who will review all applications against the questions in the application form. Up to two applicants will be shortlisted and put forward to a wider University Panel. All applicants will be informed as to whether or not their application was shortlisted.
The British Council will review the shortlisted applications and notify the successful candidates in January 2025.
Successful applicants will receive full training and mentorship by the British Council prior to beginning their Fellowship. This will include participating in 15 hours of compulsory online training and collaborative workshops to know more about Venice, La Biennale and British Pavilion exhibition content. It also provides a chance to network and meet others in the cohort of Fellows with which you will be working during your time in Venice.
Through their training and experience in supporting the exhibition at the British Pavilion, Fellows learn techniques for enhancing a visitor’s understanding and expanding their perspectives on the show. The stewarding experience provides them with valuable work experience and confidence in contributing to a gallery setting.
After the Fellowship, fellows that have been supported will be expected to engage with the cultural events of the University to showcase their experience and research work at a number of events.
Please read the Venice Fellowship Programme Guide for detailed information about the programme and to download the application form template. General information about the Venice Fellowship is available on the British Council’s website.
Q&A sessions for interested candidates will be held by the British Council on the following dates via Zoom:
Option 1 - Monday, 14th October 2024, 12pm-1pm BST - [click to register]
Option 2 - Wednesday, 6th November 2024, 12pm-1pm GMT - [click to register]
The session will cover:
1. Overview of the 2025 Fellowships Programme Application Guidelines.
2. Experiences from previous Fellows.
3. Support guidance for completing the 2025 application form.
Northumbria will not receive a recording. Please attend if you would like to receive further information.
Department/School Leads:
Architecture and Built Environment - Lesley McIntyre
Design, Arts and Creative Industries – Naho Matsuda
venicefellowships@britishcouncil.org for general questions about the Fellowship.
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