The United States government has recently opened up the application process for proposals for the Venice Biennale pavilion, setting out new guidelines that prioritize “American values” and “American exceptionalism.” The guidelines also include restrictions on promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Applicants have just over a year to prepare for the 2026 Biennale, with selections expected to be announced on September 1. The funding opportunity of $375,000, as reported by Vanity Fair, comes with a significantly tighter timeline compared to previous grant cycles. In the previous cycle, the artist proposal was selected by July, leaving approximately 11 months for preparation. This time, applicants only have eight months.
Collaborating artists and curators are now required to outline how their program ideas will advance the interests of the United States in terms of administration, design, and implementation. The review criteria will focus on showcasing American exceptionalism and innovation.
One of the key restrictions in the new guidelines is the prohibition of using funds for DEI-related programming, in line with President Trump’s executive order to end such initiatives at the federal level.
The guidelines for the 2023 pavilion grant opportunity emphasized diversity and inclusion as major points of US foreign policy, along with democracy, human rights, and other global challenges.
Interestingly, the limitations and restrictions section also specifies that funds cannot be used to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This agency has been at the center of controversy for alleged ties to terrorist organizations.
Israel banned UNRWA in January, and there have been efforts in the US to designate it as a foreign terrorist organization. The inclusion of UNRWA in the funding restrictions raises questions about the government’s stance on the agency.
We have reached out to the US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for clarification on the guidelines and the inclusion of UNRWA. The National Endowment for the Arts, responsible for reviewing proposals, has also been contacted for comment.
It remains to be seen how these new guidelines will impact the selection process for the US Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
