The British Council announces open call for exhibition proposals.

VENICE- The British Council Commission has launched its fourth open call for an intercultural team to develop and deliver a major exhibition for the British Pavilion at the Venice Giardini. Supported by an investment of £200,000, the forthcoming installation will represent the United Kingdom at the 20th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, one of the world’s leading platforms for architectural discourse and innovation.

This initiative will be undertaken in collaboration with the UK–Malaysia Human-Nature programme, a strategic initiative dedicated to advancing inclusive, equitable, and sustainable futures. The programme emphasises the significance of working alongside local communities, arts practitioners, and academic researchers to amplify Indigenous voices and protect traditional practices. Within this context, the project offers practitioners a unique opportunity to cultivate meaningful transcultural partnerships and to contribute to a wider dialogue on architecture’s role in shaping innovative and sustainable solutions in response to a global climate crisis.

Building on the recent success of the 2025 UK-Kenya initiative, the 2027 exhibition cycle coincides with a notable diplomatic milestone: the 70th anniversary of formal bilateral investment and cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and Malaysia. In recognition of this occasion, applicants are particularly encouraged to propose concepts that engage critically with themes related to ‘colonialism, extractive economies, identity and representation, inclusion, ancestral knowledge and wisdom, biodiversity, the climate emergency, and/or cultural rights and heritage protection’.

Although the members of the Selection Committee have not yet been formally confirmed, preliminary statements from representatives indicate that successful proposals will be those capable of ‘inspiring new perspectives in contemporary architecture’, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and internationally relevant architectural movement. Proposals must outline a cohesive and compelling narrative, present a concept that is both imaginative and viable and demonstrate a clear plan for delivery within the designated budget. Given the hybrid nature of the project, the exhibition must be conceived for both physical presentation in Venice and simultaneous digital engagement for global audiences.

British Council eligibility requirements specify that each practitioner team must include at least one British and one Malaysian partner. The Lead Practitioner must reside or work in the United Kingdom and must be able to demonstrate a substantive connection to contemporary British architecture. Additional team members may include curators, exhibition designers and researchers with relevant experience.

This call represents a unique opportunity for an interdisciplinary team to showcase its vision of sustainable, intercultural architectural innovation. Applications must be submitted through the online portal by 14 January 2026.

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