La Biennale di Venezia

International Art Exhibition

The Venice Biennial originated in 1895 as an international art exhibition in the Giardini di Castello. In the 1930s, the organizing institution became autonomous, and from then on arranged festivals for music (since 1930), film (since 1932) and theater (since 1934), as well.

As a consequence of political events in 1968, the Venice Biennial discontinued several of its traditional activities. In 1973 the organization was reformed, and since 1975 it has also arranged international architecture exhibitions. The Biennale received a new statute in 1998.