National Pavilion UAE Launches the Venice Internship for the 54th Venice Biennale

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 1, 2010 – A specialized internship program is being launched to recruit Emiratis and long term residents of the UAE to manage the UAE’s national pavilion at the Venice Biennale from 31 May to 27 November 2011.

Interns will have the opportunity to work alongside distinguished curator Vasif Kortun and the team of the UAE Pavilion office in Dubai in the lead-up to the Biennale. A select group will then go on to Venice to serve in the national pavilion as Exhibition Managers while engaging in a comprehensive art educational program based on the extraordinary art and cultural institutions in Venice and the temporary exhibitions of the Biennale.

The principle objective of the Venice Internship is to groom the next generation of UAE arts practitioners and managers with the skills needed to take national cultural initiatives to the forefront of the global art scene.

“The Venice Internship will allow interns a unique opportunity and unrivaled experience in the making and caring for an international exhibition.” Vasif Kortun, Curator of the UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, 2011.

Venice Internship will formally debut at Abu Dhabi Art from the 4th to the 7th of November. An information booth will set up whereby interested parties may engage with staff and volunteers to find out more about the opportunity for Emiratis to spend up to 5 weeks each in Venice from May to December 2011.

On the back of the success of the UAE Pavilion Volunteer Program in 2009, which saw almost 50 volunteers sent to Venice in partnership with Takatof and Emirates Airline, the program for 2011 will see a more select number of candidates deployed with an increased focus on specialization in contemporary arts training.

“Students, practitioners of the arts and anyone interested in the UAE’s art and architectural scene is welcome to apply. The Venice Internship is designed to demonstrate to parents, teachers and the public that art is a serious career vocation.” Dr. Lamees Hamdan, Commissioner of the UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

Takatof will provide support to the Venice Internship. Takatof is a voluntary nationwide social program, developed by the Emirates Foundation to create a culture of volunteering throughout the UAE.

Initiated and supported by His Excellency Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, the UAE Pavilion is being developed and presented for the second time under the leadership of its Commissioner, Dr. Lamees Hamdan, a member of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Serving as curator for the UAE Pavilion is Vasif Kortun, writer, curator and teacher in the field of contemporary visual art.

The UAE’s second national pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale is initiated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and is supported by the Emirates Foundation, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and TDIC.