NZIA seeks Creative Director for Venice Architecture Biennal

Media release 4 February 2014

NZIA seeks Creative Director for New Zealand exhibition at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale

The New Zealand Institute of Architects is inviting applications for the prestigious position of Creative Director of the official New Zealand exhibition at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale.

This will be only the second New Zealand national exhibition at the world’s leading architectural event, following the country’s successful inaugural exhibition at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale.

“Participation in the Venice Biennale is a great showcase for New Zealand’s architects and architecture, and also for our culture,” said Unitec professor Tony van Raat, who is Commissioner of the New Zealand exhibition at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale.

“The Biennale runs for six months, includes more than 60 national exhibitions, attracts nearly 250,000 visitors, and is covered by thousands of media representatives. It’s a unique opportunity to tell our architectural story to an international audience, to offer our take on the architectural issues that confront communities all around the world, and to learn from the experiences of others.”

Professor van Raat said he expects teams assembled by applicants for the Creative Director role will include not only architects and architecture students, but also practitioners from a wide range of related fields – landscape architects and engineers, artists and writers, graphic designers and animators, gallerists and curators, and construction and logistics specialists.

“We’re looking for a really strong idea that will make for a compelling exhibition,” said Professor van Raat. “The Biennale is a sophisticated event and we want to surprise its international audience – let them know there’s more to New Zealand than sport, scenery and hobbits.”

The 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale will run from June to November. Applications for the position of the Creative Director of the New Zealand exhibition must be submitted by 12 March 2015.

Entry details and requirements for the Creative Director role are on the New Zealand Institute of Architects’ website at www.nzia.co.nz/venice-biennale.aspx.

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