Opportunity to work at the British Pavilion
The London Borough of Ealing has been successful in gaining a Venice Art Biennale fellowship for one young creative. You must be aged 18-30 and a resident in the borough.
You will have the opportunity to work at the British Pavilion for a month – and to represent the UK!
You will attend training and develop your own practice while in Venice. An incredible and transformational experience for one lucky young person!
The London Borough of Ealing is the only council in the country offering this opportunity.
Fee: if successful, you will receive £3,300 towards travel, accommodation and living costs.
A celebration of art and architecture
Venice Biennale attracts half a million visitors every year. A celebration of art and architecture, the Biennale explores themes of politics and contemporary cultural and social issues through performance, sculpture and installations.
For this opportunity we have partnered with the British Council as part of the Venice Fellowships Programme, a scheme which activates and enriches world-renowned exhibitions at the Venice Biennale. The successful Ealing resident will spend a month in Venice during the 2026 Art Biennale, working at the British Pavilion and undertaking their own creative research.
Lubaina Himid at British Pavillion
The world-renowned British artist, Lubaina Himid RA, CBE will represent Great Britain and deliver a major solo exhibition of new work at the British Pavilion.
Known for a pioneering practice which addresses themes of race, history, feminism, cultural memory and identity, Lubaina frequently employs storytelling and historical research to challenge dominant Eurocentric narratives and highlight the overlooked contributions of Black figures in Western history.
The Venice Fellowships Programme aims to support the exhibition programme and offer a platform for the development of new creative careers and future leaders. The Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for emerging creatives from Ealing to represent the UK on an international level whilst broadening their perspective, making connections and developing their creative practice.
The programme enables creatives to spend a month in Venice during the world’s most important art biennial. As exhibition ambassadors at the British Pavilion, the student Fellows enrich and activate the British Council’s exhibition programme. They engage visiting members of the public and expand the impact of the show. Alongside this practical residency, Fellows have the opportunity to develop their own research or practical creative projects and use the Biennale as a platform for artistic and professional development.
How to Apply
- Read the programme guidance to ensure you are eligible.
- Download and complete the application form.
- Email your application to culture@ealing.gov.uk with the subject line “[First Name][Last Name] –Venice Fellowship Programme 2026 – Application”
Deadline: Friday 28th November 2025 (midday)
Application Webinars
An online webinar will be held by Ealing Culture department on Thursday 6th November (12.30pm-2pm) to give an overview of the Fellowship Programme and Application process, followed by a Q&A session. Register your interest here.
You can also join a Q&A session with the British Council to find out more:
- Monday 20th October 2025, 12pm-1pm – register here: teams link
- Wednesday 19 November 2025, 12pm-1pm – register here: teams link
Contact Sophie at venicefellowships@britishcouncil.org if you have any further questions about the Fellowship.
Contact Will at culture@ealing.gov.uk for questions about the application process.
This unique partnership with the British Council demonstrates our commitment to increasing cultural and career opportunities for our young residents .This is an exciting opportunity for a member of our creative community to experience the most important art festival in the world, represent the UK and connect with others at an international level. It shows we are delivering on the pledges in our Cultural Manifesto – to deliver more collaboration, more access and more ambition for the arts in Ealing.
Blerina Hashani, Councillor and Cabinet Member