The Venice Architecture Biennale will open to the public on 23 May despite Italy's coronavirus outbreak, organisers confirmed today as they unveiled details of the programme.
Paolo Baratta, president of La Biennale di Venezia, announced details of the 17th architecture biennale via a live stream this morning.
Speculation over a postponement of the world's most prestigious architecture biennale had been mounting in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, but Baratta did not mention it.
The live stream was set up after a physical press conference scheduled for 3 March at the Italian Cultural Institute in London was cancelled with no explanation.
The online press conference took place as the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Italy has risen to 400. The majority of these cases are concentrated in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, of which Venice is the capital. A statement published alongside the press conference stated that the biennale will take place between 23 May and 29 November 2020, as previously planned. The preview, or vernissage, is scheduled for 21 and 22 May.
Biennale's theme is How will we live together"
During the press conference, which was broadcast from the biennale's Ca' Giustinian headquarters in Venice, Baratta introduced the themes of this year's events.
Hashim Sarkis, who will curate the biennale this year, joined via a video link from the United States. He explained the ideas behind this year's theme, which is How will we...