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A Call for Submissions proposing the Canadian representation at the 14th International Exhibition for Architecture, 2014 Venice Biennale in Architecture

The Canada Council for the Arts invites proposals for the Canadian representation at the 2014 Venice Biennale in Architecture, to be shown in the Canada Pavilion at Venice and in Canada.

Project overview 

The proposed presentation should communicate excellence, innovation, and currency in contemporary Canadian architecture including buildings, landscapes and places, or in works of critical and (or) design research on architecture, landscape architecture or the urban environment.

The venue

The Venice Biennale in Architecture is the most important and prestigious international event in contemporary architecture.  Cultural leaders, architects, artists, and more than 200,000 visitors attend the Biennale with the expectation of discovering the cutting edge of architecture.  The Biennale offers a unique opportunity to showcase Canadian excellence in architecture and provides a unique occasion to share ideas with peers from around the world. 

National pavilions in current and past biennales can be explored through the following links.

2004                 National pavilions;         Canadian Pavilion;         Award-winning pavilion

2006                 National pavilions;         Canadian pavilion;         Award-winning pavilion

2008                 National pavilions;         Canadian pavilion;         Award-winning pavilion

2010                 National Pavilions          Canadian Pavilion;         Award-winning pavilion

The Venice Biennale takes place primarily in the Giardini and the Arsenale in Venice.  The Giardini hosts 30 national pavilions, including the Canada Pavilion.  The Canada Pavilion is located in a high-profile area of the Giardini, adjacent to those of Great Britain, Germany and France, and close to those of the United States, Japan and Russia.

Information packages on the Canadian pavilion and the management of exhibitions in Venice are available upon request.  Please contact the Program Officer listed at the end of this document.

Responsibilities

The selected applicant will be responsible for delivering the proposed project, without substantial alteration, while assuming responsibility for expenses incurred by the project, beyond the envelope provided by the Canada Council.  Applicants can either choose to develop simple projects of modest means, or more elaborate propositions involving additional sources of funding.  A sample budget is included in the information package, available upon request.

The successful applicant will have responsibilities in all aspects of the Canadian presentation, including: 

  • Conception, design and production of the exhibition;
  • shipping, insurance, installation and dismantling of the exhibition;
  • opening, closing, operation and staffing of the Canada Pavilion;
  • coordination with the National Gallery of Canada (as proprietor of the Canada Pavilion in Venice), the administration of the Venice Biennale and the Canadian Embassy in Italy;
  • display of the exhibit, or a version of it, in Canada

Architecture Canada |RAIC provides project management assistance, focusing on fundraising and communication support.  Fundraising assistance includes planning, strategy and establishment of targets with the selected team, approach of selected donors, as well as the provision of charitable tax receipts.  RAIC retains 18% of funds raised to cover costs associated with these activities, in accordance with the lower range of fundraising industry standards in terms of administrative fees.  Communication assistance includes website, opening ceremonies in Venice, as well as promotion and media relations.

Eligible participants

Proposed projects are expected to be part of a collaborative team anchored by a cultural institution, organization, or architectural firm.

The nominal applicant must be an incorporated Canadian organization, institution, or registered business.  These include, but are not limited to, architectural firms, organizations and associations, schools of architecture, artist-run-centres, galleries and museums.  The organization, institution, or business must be at least 75 percent Canadian-owned and have its head office and executive located in Canada.

The team must include professional expertise and experience in contemporary Canadian architecture.  This includes, but is not limited to, architects, critics and curators of architecture, professors of architecture, landscape architects and urban designers.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate their ability to manage the responsibilities outlined and complete a project of this nature. 

Submission requirements

  1. Submission form and signed declaration
    The submission form is to be found at the end of this document.
  2. Vision
    A statement identifying the conceptual framework, the works of architecture and/or practitioner(s) to be presented.  (maximum one page)
  3. Design strategy
    An exhibition design strategy, including a description of the proposed use of the space inside and (or) around the Canada pavilion in Venice.  The presentation(s) in Canada should also be discussed. (maximum one page)
  4. Team
    A list of parties involved in the project, including an outline of the experience, roles and responsibilities of each member and the nature of the agreement between parties.
  5. Budget
    An estimated budget including expected revenue and expenses (sample budget and expected expenses are provided in the information package, available upon request), and a discussion of the potential sources of funding and support.
  6. Schedule
    An approximate outline of the deliverables and deadlines for the Canadian exhibit(s) and the Venice presentation.
  7. Digital Images
    • Up to 10 images of the exhibition contents and design.
    • Optional: Up to 5 images exhibitions produced by the team members and/or the institution presenting the proposal.

Please submit your proposal on unbound separate sheets of 8 ½ x 11 inch, white paper.  Print on one side only, with black ink.  Submit only the material requested.  Additional support material will not be shown to the peer assessment committee.   Be sure to write your name and the title of the proposal on all items, and to follow the ‘Do’s and don’ts of submitting digital material’, at the end of this document. 

Assessment process

The Canada Council for the Arts will administer the selection process.  Submissions first undergo a feasibility review by three professionals in the field, focusing on fit with the Canada Pavilion in Venice, feasibility of installation, budget, schedule and fundraising strategy.  The submissions, along with the feasibility reviews, are then presented to a committee composed of experienced professionals chosen for their specialized knowledge in the field.  Committee members are selected by the Canada Council for the Arts, to reflect a broad range of professional experience and to ensure fair representation of gender, regional and cultural diversity, Aboriginal peoples, generations, and Canada’s two official languages.  

Proposals will be assessed by the Committee according to the following criteria: 

  • The architectural interest of the material to be represented;
  • the capacity of the exhibition to capture the attention of visitors and generate a stimulating conversation about Canadian architecture, at home and abroad;
  • the feasibility of the project;
  • the demonstrated capacity of the applicant to complete projects of this nature in an expedient, responsible, and professional manner.

A priority applicant and an alternate will be selected by the committee.  If the priority applicant declines the invitation to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale, the alternate is invited.

Deadline for Submissions

15 October 2012

Your completed application and all required support material must be postmarked on or before the deadline date.  The Canada Council for the Arts will not accept applications postmarked after the deadline date, incomplete applications, or those submitted by fax or email. 

Privacy and Confidentiality

The Privacy Act protects your personal information and provides you with the right to access your information.  Personal information is maintained in Personal Information Bank CAC PPU 115 (individuals) or 130 (organizations).  All other information may be accessible to others under the Access to Information Act. 

Further Information

Interested parties are to contact the Canada Council program officer (below) to receive an information package and discuss the specific challenges of this event.

Brigitte Desrochers
Program Officer, Architecture
brigitte.desrochers@canadacouncil.ca
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 or 613-566-4414, ext. 5270
Fax: 613-566-4332

Visual Arts Section
Canada Council for the Arts
 350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa, Ontario  K1P 5V8

 

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