Learning Programme

Scotland + Venice is committed to providing development opportunities for individuals across the teams we work with as well as through a dedicated Professional Development Programme for students, graduates and early year professionals.

Working with different partner organisations including art and architecture schools and universities and colleges we provide a unique opportunity for students to work in Venice at the exhibition and develop their own area of research. These opportunities have been highly valued and have seen our participants go on to exciting careers across the sector

The Learning Programme is a key part of Scotland + Venice. It offers fantastic opportunities for professional training, work experience and individual creative development to Scotland-based individuals, while ensuring the exhibition in Venice runs well and all visitors are warmly welcomed.

“Not only are you living and working in one of the most historically rich and beautiful cities in the world, you have access to the best of the best in terms of contemporary art. The impact on my career is directly linked to this opportunity.” – 2017 participant Lottie Thorne

The legacy of this 16-year programme is significant, with over 100 students from ten Scottish art institutes of further and higher Education taking part; many of whom have gone on to work in the visual arts sector.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to those that we engage with and to diversify the workforce and w work with partners to develop and support opportunities for under-represented individuals.

Educational visits: If you are an educator bringing a group to the exhibition, please get in touch so we can help you prepare for your visit.

2023

A group of people stand in a staircase in the V&A Dundee
The first group of Professional Development Programme participants for 2023 pictured at V&A Dundee. Photo by Miss Lydia Photography.

Since its founding in 2003, Scotland + Venice has been committed to delivering a learning and professional development programme, creating opportunities for over 150 students and early career practitioners to experience La Biennale and the international world of contemporary art and architecture first-hand. Read more

2022

Image: Matthew Arthur Williams

2022’s Professional Development Programme sees students and early career practitioners take an active role in Alberta Whittle’s Biennale Arte 2022 Collateral Event with Scotland + Venice. Find out more about this year’s Professional Development Programme – read the press release. Read more

Become a Partner

Scotland + Venice works in partnership with universities, colleges and organisations throughout Scotland to fund and support students, graduates and early year professionals to participate in the Professional Development Programme (PDP) and live and work for a minimum of one month at the Venice Biennale. Read more

2019

Scotland + Venice 2019 Professional Development Programme participants

This year, in addition to partnering with six Scottish Art Schools and Colleges, the Programme will benefit from new collaborations with the Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN) and Templar Arts and Leisure Centre (talc), Argyll and Bute. Read more

2018

Team Social back in Glasgow, June 2018

Five students from five Scottish universities were selected to work at The Happenstance in 2018 at the 16th Annual Venice Architecture Biennale where they worked at the exhibition and carried out their own research. Read more

2017

2017 Professional Development Programme students - photo by Neil Hanna

Fourteen art students from six Scottish art colleges have been selected for the Professional Development Programme as part of the Scotland + Venice 2017 presentation of a solo show of new work by Rachel Maclean. Read more

2015

For 2015 two additional colleges will be participating for the first time, Dundee & Angus College and Moray College. We will be selecting twenty one students and seven graduates from Hospitalfield’s Graduate Residency programme to make seven teams of four. Read more

2013

We are gathering information about the people and projects involved in the Learning Programmes which have accompanied previous Scotland + Venice presentations. If you were involved as an information assistant or artist and have images, weblinks and information we would love to hear from you. Read more

2011

We are gathering information about the people and projects involved in the Learning Programmes which have accompanied previous Scotland + Venice presentations. If you were involved as an information assistant or artist and have images, weblinks and information we would love to hear from you. Read more

2009

We are gathering information about the people and projects involved in the Learning Programmes which have accompanied previous Scotland + Venice presentations. If you were involved as an information assistant or artist and have images, weblinks and information we would love to hear from you. Read more