Venice Fellowship Programme | call for applications
- Written byNicole Horgan
- Published date 26 September 2025
UAL Decolonising Arts Institute is delighted to announce a new partnership with the 2026 British Council Venice Fellowships Programme. The programme is a unique opportunity for creative individuals, students, researchers, artists and professionals at the early stages of their career, sending approximately 60 UK-based students and researchers to the Venice Biennale to spend a month in Venice during the world’s most important art and architecture biennales. Two fellowship places are available for UAL postgraduate or doctoral students and alumni.
The Fellowship has two major components:
- As exhibition ambassador, fellows will invigilate the British Pavilion, engaging with the public and being the public face of the British Council and its commission. Artist Lubaina Himid will represent Britain at the 2026 Biennale.
- Fellows will also have the opportunity to develop a research or creative project: undertaking fieldwork in Venice to inform their creative practice, research and/or academic interests. This should be connected to La Biennale and/or British Pavilion exhibition themes.
Full details are available from the Venice Fellowship Open Call.
What is the Venice Biennale?
From May to November, alternating between art and architecture, the Venice Biennale now attracts half a million visitors a year. A celebration of art and architecture, the Biennale explores themes of politics and contemporary cultural and social issues through performance, sculpture and installations.
How will Fellows be supported?
Our priorities as a British Council partner are to nurture local and international networks, and engage with emerging creatives of colour, building on UAL’s support for past successes at the Venice Biennale. In 2017, the critically acclaimed Diaspora Pavilion was presented at the 57th Venice Biennale by the International Curators Forum (ICF) in partnership with UAL. Artists included susan pui san lok (now Director of the Decolonising Arts Institute), Dr Kimathi Donkor and Erika Tan (now Readers at UAL). In 2022, UAL Professor Sonia Boyce OBE RA won the prestigious Golden Lion award for Best National Participation at the 59th Venice Biennale for her exhibition ‘Feeling Her Way’ at the British Pavilion. In light of John Akomfrah’s 2024 exhibition and Lubaina Himid's forthcoming British Pavilion exhibition, the 60th Venice Biennale presents an opportune context to consider these three moments in relation to the Fellows’ research projects and reflections.
Successful applicants will receive training from the British Council prior to beginning their Fellowship. This will include participating in 15 hours of compulsory online training and collaborative workshops to learn more about Venice, La Biennale and the British Pavilion exhibition. The training will also provide a chance to network and meet other Fellows with whom you will be working during your time in Venice.
The Decolonising Arts Institute will pair each of the selected Fellows with a mentor. Mentors will support the Fellows in the planning and development of their project/research before, during, and after their Venice residency, to co-develop a clear vision and plan for how fellows will bring back their project/research findings to their peers and UK community groups. This will include up to 8 hours of face-to-face or remote meetings. Fellows will be recognised as Institute Associates for the duration of their Fellowship and invited to join a DeAI network of past and present fellows and associates. Fellows will be invited to participate in a public event to share their findings and discuss their experiences.
Funding
Fellows receive a grant from the British Council matched by funding from UAL with a total value of £3300 to help support travel, accommodation and living costs. Additional funding is available to support access requirements.
Timeline
03 November, 12:00-13:00 BST: Online information and Q&A session for applicants Register here
19 November, 12:00-13:00 BST: Online information and Q&A session for applicants
Register here
16 November 2025: Deadline for applications to the Fellowships programme
February 2026: Candidates notified of application outcome
March to April 2026: Induction School Training. Candidates must commit to and attend in full all of the online training dates: 18 March, 25 March, 01 April, 08 April, 15 April and 22 April 2026, from 6:30pm – 8:15pm UK time on Teams/Zoom.
May to November 2026: Candidates must be available to travel and live in Venice for a full month period (30 days). The designated period will be confirmed after the final selection of fellows.
How to apply
Eligibility
We are seeking individuals that meet the following criteria:
- Candidates must be over 18 years old and based in the UK.
- Candidates must be enrolled at UAL as postgraduate or doctoral students; UAL postgraduate or doctoral alumni are also welcome to apply.
- We welcome creative individuals from all backgrounds, areas of knowledge and/or academic departments, and we particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups in the creative sector, including those from the following: global ethnic majority, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and those facing social barriers to accessing the arts, the creative industries and other economic opportunities.
- Candidates must commit to and attend in full all of the Induction School Training dates: 28 February, 18 March, 25 March, 01 April, 08 April, 15 April and 22 April 2026, from 6:30pm – 8:15pm UK time on Teams/Zoom.
- Candidates must be able to manage, handle and book all the requirements for their own trip to Venice (including travel and finding accommodation), as well as develop their project/research.
- Candidates must be available to travel and live in Venice for a full month period (30 days) from May to November 2026. The designated period will be confirmed after final selection.
- Candidates must demonstrate experience, confidence and interest in working with people from diverse backgrounds and have (emerging) confidence in engaging with audiences, for example, through public speaking and presenting.
- Candidates should have an idea of a potential project or research proposal connected to the Programme values, as well as with the 2026 La Biennale/British Pavilion theme, including racial injustice, colonial legacies, feminism, cultural memory and identity, to be developed while in Venice and back to the UK.
Application Process
- Read the Venice Fellowship Application Guidance Notes which contains a link to the application form template.
- Download and complete the application form
- Send a copy of your CV with your completed application form to decolonisingartsinstitute@arts.ac.uk
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is 16 November 11.59 GMT
Please note that we will not be able to accept any late applications. Please allow plenty of time to prepare and submit your application, making sure you send your completed application form to the correct email address well before the deadline.
LCC Postgraduate applicants are welcome to apply through either one of two routes: through the Decolonising Arts Institute, or through the LCC International Team by emailing their application form to: mobility@lcc.arts.ac.uk. Please only apply through one of the options.
Selection Process
A UAL panel led by the Decolonising Arts Institute will review all applications against the questions in the application form. Up to ten applicants will be shortlisted and put forward to the British Council for final selection.
All applicants will be informed as to whether or not their application was shortlisted by the Decolonising Arts Institute. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications expected, we will not be able to provide individual feedback on applications.
The British Council will review the shortlisted applications and notify the final candidates in early January 2026. A virtual interview with candidates may be required.
Further Information
Please read the Venice Fellowship Open Call and the Venice Fellowship Application Guidance Notes for detailed information about the programme and to download the application form. General information about the Venice Fellowship is available on the British Council’s website.