The Venice Biennale of Art is held every two years in Venice, Italy. There are also biennales of other artforms in Venice, notably film, dance, music and theatre. The biennale of architecture takes place on alternate years. New Zealand participates in the contemporary art event at the Biennale.

The History of the Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale began in 1895 as the International Exhibition of Art of the City of Venice to promote "the most noble activities of the modern spirit without distinction of country."

The first exhibition displayed over five hundred works of art; just under half of the art was by Italian artists with the rest by international artists.

From 1907 the Biennale became more international when several countries started installing their own national pavilions at the event.

In the 1930s new festivals of cinema, music, and theater were established. In 1932 the Venice Film Festival was the first film festival ever organised.

It was after World War I (1914 - 1918) that the Biennale increasingly showcased innovations in modern art; between the two World Wars many modern artists had their work exhibited at the Biennale.

The Biennale continues to develop. The first International Architecture Exhibition taking place in 1980 and dance making its debut in 1999.

The Venice Biennale is the world's oldest regular contemporary art exposition. Since it's foundation in 1895 it has been avant-garde, promoting new artistic trends and organising international events in the contemporary arts.

Today, it is arguably the most important and prestigious visual arts event in the international arts calendar; being included in the Biennale is considered a great honour for artists, which can further their international career.

National Pavillions
Today the Venice Biennale is a kind of world fair of contemporary art, showing the work of over 800 artists who represent more than 77 countries. Each country is invited to attend through an invitation from the Italian government.

The Biennale is based at the Giardini di Castello, gardens in the east of Venice that have been the venue since 1895. The area hosts the Italian pavilion and 34 national pavilions. Countries that show in the Giardini include Australia, England, Brazil and Germany. The assignment of the permanent pavilions in the Giardini was largely dictated by the international politics of the 1930s and the Cold War.

Countries without pavilions in the Giardini, such as New Zealand, show their art in palaces and historic venues around town. Participating countries without pavilions in the Giardini have increased in recent years. At the 52^nd Venice Biennale in 2007, 42 pavilions where situated outside the Giardini. Artists showing in national pavilions are selected by their country of origin to represent the most significant contemporary art practice that country has to offer.

During the four to five months of the Biennale, Venice becomes a showcase for international contemporary art, with hundreds of thousands of people visiting the city and its numerous exhibitions. Among the huge audience are major private and public collectors, art dealers, arts journalists, critics, artists and curators, as well as a diverse public audience.

Curated Exhibition
Each Biennale, a guest curator is appointed to curate a special exhibition, which is loosely organised around the overarching Biennale theme.

This exhibition includes artists from around the world and is a major component of the Biennale event. Today the exhibition is largely staged in the Corderie Dell'Arsenale, a large disused rope factory about 10 minutes walk from the Giardini.

Collateral Events
Under the official umbrella of the Biennale, a range of related activities take place around Venice. These include commercial and non-commercial exhibitions, film screenings, performances, concerts, official parties and functions, lectures and symposia. Various non-Biennale related arts activities also take place during the Biennale period.

Seeing The Biennale
The Venice Biennale runs for five months from June to November every two years.

Prior to the official opening of the Biennale there is a three day preview period called The Vernissage. The preview is for the media and key collectors, critics, curators, dealers and museum personnel; it is closed to the public.

The Vernissage is an important time for key visual arts professionals to see contemporary art from around the world and for publicity.