The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan has announced an open competition for curatorial projects to participate in the National Pavilion of Kazakhstan at the 61st Venice Biennale, which will take place from May to November 2026.

The main theme of the Biennale is In Minor Keys. The goal of the competition is to select a conceptually coherent project that will represent contemporary Kazakhstani art on the international stage and emphasize interaction with regional art communities within the country.

Kazakhstani curators or curator groups with at least five years of curatorial practice are invited to participate. Priority is given to specialists residing and working in Kazakhstan.

The participation requirements are straightforward: projects revealing a diversity of curatorial approaches and forms of artistic expression are accepted. Applications may include new conceptual ideas specifically developed for participation in the Venice Biennale, previously implemented projects recognized in the professional community, as well as initiatives for updating or reinterpreting existing exhibitions.

Special attention is given to projects capable of establishing sustainable dialogue with regional art communities in Kazakhstan, involving local artists and researchers, thereby forming a unified cultural space where contemporary art becomes a living reflection of the country’s polyphony.

The National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan will be located in the very heart of Venice’s cultural route, known as the “Museum Mile.” This strategic location unites the city’s leading art institutions and ensures a high level of international attention to the project.

The total area of the pavilion is approximately 250 square meters, including an internal courtyard that allows for large-scale installations, performances, and outdoor art objects. The architectural space of the Palazzo will serve not only as an exhibition venue but also as a living context for artistic expression, capable of highlighting the idea of Kazakhstan’s participation in the global cultural dialogue.

It is important to note that the 61st Venice Biennale will run from May 9 to November 22, 2026, with a pre-opening event scheduled for May 6–8.

Before submitting an application, please note that each submission must be presented as a single PDF file up to 100 MB in size and include a complete package of documents revealing the concept, content, and implementation of the project.

The application package must include:

• The project title, developed specifically for the National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• The curatorial concept (1,500–2,000 words), containing the author’s interpretation of the 61st Venice Biennale theme In Minor Keys, as well as a rationale for the significance and relevance of the project in the international context;
• Technical and financial specifications, including a detailed implementation plan (up to 2 pages), description of technical requirements and possible production risks (up to 1 page), and a preliminary detailed budget (up to 1 page);
• Information about project participants — a list of artists, researchers, and co-authors with their roles and participation status (at least five participants);
• Portfolio of the curator(s) and the project (up to 10 pages), demonstrating previous experience and artistic direction;
• CVs of the curator(s) (up to 2 pages per person);
• Motivation letter, revealing the curatorial vision, distribution of roles, and responsibilities within the team;
• A selection of publications about the curators, artists, and implemented projects (up to 1 page).

Applications are accepted in Kazakh or Russian.

Additional materials — presentations, photographs, videos, and other media files — must be uploaded to Google Drive with open read-only access provided.

This submission format allows the expert committee to gain a comprehensive understanding of the concept, professional level, and potential of the proposed project.

When reviewing applications, the expert committee will be guided by several key criteria aimed at identifying the strongest and most representative projects capable of proudly representing Kazakhstan internationally.

The main evaluation criteria include:

• Conceptual integrity and originality of the interpretation of the 61st Venice Biennale theme In Minor Keys — how convincingly the project reveals the declared idea and offers an authorial understanding of the theme;
• Relevance to the international context — the project’s correspondence to current artistic and cultural discussions and its potential for dialogue with the global art community;
• Feasibility of implementation — thoroughness of production, budget, logistics, and timelines, reflecting the team’s ability to execute the project professionally;
• Engagement with regions and local communities — degree of integration of regional practices, development of horizontal links between the center and regions, support for local artists;
• Ethical and sustainable approach — attention to environmental friendliness, inclusiveness, and socially responsible practices in curatorial and artistic activities;
• Professional level of the curators — quality of portfolios, experience in significant projects, degree of research and artistic maturity;
• International experience — presence of realized curatorial or artistic initiatives abroad, confirming readiness for participation in the global exhibition process.

This evaluation approach ensures transparency and objectivity in selection, as well as helps identify projects that can contribute Kazakhstan’s voice to the global cultural space.

All competition applications must be sent to the official email address specified by the organizer. After verifying completeness and correctness of the materials, each application will be forwarded to jury members for online review and expert analysis.

The jury process consists of two stages:

• Preliminary stage — analysis of all submitted projects and formation of a shortlist of 3–5 strongest and most promising applications that meet the competition criteria;
• Final stage — conducting online or in-person interviews with finalist teams, during which curators present their projects, answer jury questions, and clarify details of concept, production, and budget.

Following the interviews, the jury will hold a final vote to select the winner whose concept will be realized as the National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the 61st Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art.

The budget must represent a realistic and transparent estimate of all anticipated expenses and resources required to implement the project. Co-financing, partner participation, and sponsorship are allowed, provided their contributions and funding sources are clearly indicated.

Special attention is given to a sustainable and responsible production approach — priority will be given to projects using local contractors, practicing material reuse, and choosing environmentally friendly methods of transportation and installation.

The detailed budget structure must separately specify:

• Expenses for artistic production and materials;
• Logistics within Kazakhstan and Venice;
• Equipment rental and technical support;
• Production support and exhibition installation;
• Contingency expenses and insurance costs.

Such detailing ensures budget transparency and demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed project in the context of the scale and requirements of the Venice Biennale.

All competition participants are required to adhere to high professional, legal, and ethical standards that ensure transparency and integrity of project implementation.

Specifically, the following principles must be strictly observed:

• Guarantee preservation of copyrights and proper acknowledgment of all participants, partners, and organizations involved in the project;
• Ensure safety, inclusiveness, and accessibility of the exhibition and all project stages;
• Comply with international norms for exhibition, insurance, and transportation of art objects;
• Abide by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as all requirements of the Venice Biennale organizers.

It is important not to miss the application deadlines: submissions are accepted in electronic format (a single PDF file up to 100 MB).

• Application period — within one month from the announcement publication;
• Deadline for applications: December 9, 2025;
• Announcement of results: January 5, 2026;
• Up-to-date information about the competition progress, deadlines, and results is published on the organizer’s official resources;
• All questions and communication with the organizing committee are conducted exclusively through the official email (see “Contacts” section).

Note that the committee is composed of leading institutional and independent experts in contemporary art, culture, science, and museology of Kazakhstan;

• The committee composition is approved by the competition organizer;
• Jury members must adhere to principles of objectivity, transparency, and professional ethics when reviewing applications;
• The final list of the expert committee will be published on the organizer’s official website within five working days after the competition announcement.

Official competition results will be posted on the organizer’s website and in the media.

Winners will be additionally notified by email.

For inquiries, please contact:

Organizing Committee of the National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan
at the 61st Venice Biennale
📧 E-mail: info@kazakhstanpavilion2024.kz