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Pavilion Management and Exhibition Production: British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

British Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

14 Sep 2026 at 16:21

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

02 Sep 2026 at 09:55

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The British Council is seeking a service provider to manage, maintain and produce exhibitions at the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy. The single service covers property management and building operations, building maintenance, exhibition production, design, fabrication, installation, stewarding, invigilation and Fellowship support for the annual international art and architecture exhibitions. The provider will act as the British Council’s main point of contact in Venice, plan and oversee works, manage local relationships and service-provider contracts, process payments, and work with the Biennale di Venezia, the British Council project team and appointed artists or curators. The requirement combines building repair and maintenance services (CPV 50700000) with fair and exhibition organisation services (CPV 79956000).

The process has reached tender: the British Council invited offers through an open procedure. Bidders could submit electronically in English. The enquiry deadline was 23 September 2026 at 14:00 UK time, and the tender submission deadline was 5 October 2026 at 14:00 UK time. The intended award decision date was 3 November 2026. The contract period is 18 November 2026 to 17 November 2028, with renewal options extending the maximum period to 18 November 2030; continuation into years three and four depends on budget and business-need review. The estimated gross value for the single lot is EUR 2,700,000. Quality accounts for 100% of the award evaluation. Economic and technical selection requirements apply, with detail set out in the tender documentation.

This opportunity suits an exhibition-production or cultural-venue management business able to combine creative delivery with dependable operational control. Relevant capability includes exhibition design, production, fabrication and installation, building management and maintenance, stewarding and invigilation, and support for artists, curators and project teams. The provider needs to coordinate multiple local contractors and suppliers, maintain effective relationships in Venice, manage contracts and payments, and respond creatively to briefs while controlling resources and delivering value. Experience of high-quality art or architecture exhibitions, international events or comparable public-facing venues would be particularly relevant. The service also requires robust health and safety and building-management practice, including compliance with applicable EU regulations. The procurement is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Pavilion Management and Exhibition Production: British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale

Notice Description

The British Council is tendering for a supplier to provide overall management, maintenance and exhibition production of the British Pavilion. The duration of the contract is two years with the option to extend for a further two years. The contract will begin with an induction period from November 2026 to January 2027, to provide effective briefing on the role and the building and to ensure the handover of responsibilities from the existing supplier. The British Council has been responsible for the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale since 1937 and is renowned for commissioning the highest calibre UK artists and architects to present exhibitions and installations at the Pavilion. Acting as the main point of contact in Venice for the British Council, the Service Provider will be responsible for planning, overseeing and managing all works at the pavilion including property management and operations, exhibition production and installation, building maintenance and stewarding management and Fellowship support during the Venice Biennale. The Service Provider will ensure that relationships in Venice are managed effectively, contracts with Service Providers are in place and payments are processed efficiently. The service will cover general building management and maintenance, stewarding management and invigilation, as well as exhibition production and installation for the International Art and Architecture exhibitions held each year at the British Pavilion for la Biennale di Venezia. The British Council requires a Service Provider with expertise in exhibition production, exhibition design, fabrication and installation, with the ability to respond to a brief with creativity, and work with the British Council and appointed Artist / Curator to deliver high-quality solutions and value for money the available resources. The Service Provider will ensure that we are meeting all EU regulations with regards to building management and health and safety and will build excellent working relationships with the Biennale di Venezia, as well as the British Council extended Venice project team to deliver outstanding exhibitions at the British Pavilion for la Biennale di Venezia.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The Contract awarded will be for a duration of 4 (four) Years. Budget for the third and fourth years will be subject to a review of available budget at the end of Year 2, and the ongoing business need for the requirement. Funding for Years 3 and 4 therefore will be confirmed at the British Council's discretion

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f01a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087025-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

50700000 - Repair and maintenance services of building installations

79956000 - Fair and exhibition organisation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,700,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,700,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Sep 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
5 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
18 Nov 2026 - 17 Nov 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
British Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E20 1JQ
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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