Scotland + Venice’s Professional Development Programme will feature paid opportunities for 17 early career visual arts professionals to spend time at La Biennale di Venezia.

While in Venice, the cohort will look after and advocate for Scotland + Venice’s presentation by Bugarin + Castle, using their pre-Venice training to help visitors engage with the artist’s exhibition Shame Parade, while also building confidence in talking about contemporary art, expanding international networks and having the opportunity to explore the wealth of art on display across Venice.

The participants are also given time to dedicate to academic or practice-based research. In previous years, participation in Scotland + Venice PDP has led to employment opportunities, placements and delivered many collaborations and research outcomes.

For the first time, Outer Spaces are partnering with Scotland + Venice to offer three early career visual artists from their networks a 10-week paid residency as Senior Exhibition Associates. The three selected from Outer Spaces studio network are: Lily Lavorato, Calum Rennie and Jj Fadaka.

For Exhibition Associates, two artists who are based on the Isle of Bute have also been selected in a partnership with The Bute Family Trust, they are: Annabelle Crowner and Ellie Chisholm. Partnering again with a-n will bring Joshua Al-Najar, Kyle Leeson and Laura McSorley to Venice.

Scotland + Venice are again partnering with higher education institutions across Scotland to offer this opportunity. The nine selected Exhibition Associates are: Samuel Riddy (GSA), Beth Primrose (ECC), Olivia Runciman (DJCAD), Harry Scott (DJCAD), Elinor Hellett (GSA), Bess Schofield (ECA), Maya Walton (CGC) and Mieke Shaw (ECA).

Partners in full for this programme: a-n, City of Glasgow College, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Edinburgh College, Edinburgh College of Art, Glasgow School of Art, Grays School of Art, Outer Spaces and The Bute Family Trust with Mount Stuart Trust.