Working in partnership with the British Council and Scotland + Venice, Outer Spaces will support four artists at early career stages to be part of the Venice Biennale later this year.

"Paid professional development opportunities like these are a valuable part of the support we provide to artists in our network. Working with the British Council and Scotland + Venice gives network artists the chance to explore their practice from a new, international perspective while developing their professional voice and expanding their understanding of the global visual arts ecosystem" - Shan Edwards, Director and CEO, Outer Spaces

Scotland + Venice

Professional Development Programme

For the 61st La Biennale di Venezia, Outer Spaces is working with Scotland + Venice to support three early-career visual arts professionals to spend 10 weeks in Venice, as Senior Exhibition Associates.

Outer Spaces network artists Jj Fadaka, Callum Rennie and Lily Laverato will spend 10 weeks in Venice leading a team of associates to support the public’s understanding of the new artwork, while expanding their professional practice in dialogue with peers from around the world.

Scotland + Venice is a major, international project designed to promote the best of contemporary art and architecture from Scotland on the world stage. Founded in 2003 the project supports the development of new work, fosters international connections and exchange, and positions Scotland as a vibrant place for creative and cultural production.

For the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026, Bugarin + Castle are to represent Scotland, in a project curated by Mount Stuart Trust, led by Dr Morven Gregor and commissioned by Scotland + Venice. Bugarin + Castle’s commission is a multi-layered new project that uses the concept of the parade as a lens to explore complex emotional legacies of shame, sound and voice.

The selected artists will dedicate some of their time in Venice to practice-based research and will work together to produce creative responses to their experience in Venice. 

Find out more about the selected artists.

Visit the Scotland + Venice website.

British Council Venice Fellowship Programme

Outer Spaces network artist Connie Woods has been selected as the Outer Spaces Fellow at the British Pavilion during the 61st Venice Biennale, 2026.

Outer Spaces will again partner with the British Council for the Venice Fellowships Programme, supporting one early-career artist from our network to spend a month in Venice. Connie will participate in a one-month group residency, dividing her time between her role as Exhibition Ambassadors at the British Pavilion and carrying out fieldwork in Venice to inform her creative practice and research interests.

Find out more about the project.