The African Art in Venice Forum is a two-day event which will take place during the opening of the Venice Biennale at the Piano Nobile of Palazzo Dandolo, Hotel Monaco.

The African Art in Venice Forum was born from the necessity to compensate for the lack of representation of many African countries at the Venice Biennale. Only 7 out of 54 African countries are represented in national pavilions in the 57th Biennale Dell’Arte di Venezia.

Biannually, Venice becomes the world capital of contemporary art. Art enthusiasts, curators, artists, and journalists attend and discuss important social topics regarding the Biennale’s participants. Comparatively by geography, population, and the creative capability of the African continent, very little has been exhibited and discussed about many African countries until now. The lack of content becomes a lack of debate and research.

The newly added platform African Art in Venice Forum is open to speakers from all countries of the African continent, as well as representatives from international organisations, to present and discuss salient global and diaspora-specific topics. The organizers believe that they can trigger the process that will take to the participation of more African national pavilions at the Venice Biennale. Panelists will specifically speak to the following questions: How can unrepresented countries develop and improve their infrastructure for the promotion of the arts? Which are the factors preventing their communities of creatives from thriving both on a national and a global level?