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Statement on the participation of South Africa in the 10th Venice
Architecture Biennale The South African Departments of Arts and Culture,
Foreign Affairs and the National Heritage Council will participate in the 10th
Venice Architecture Biennale, to be held from 10 September to 19 November 2006.
This Biennale will, for the first time in its own history, focus on the
design of cities, their urban infrastructure and social dynamics, providing an
unique international perspective on the relationship between architecture, society
and sustainability. The theme for this year's Biennale, under the directorship
of Prof. Richard Burdett is "Cities: Society and Architecture". Prof.
Burdett is the Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism at the London
School of Economics and founding director of the LSE Cities Programme, a research
and teaching centre which explores links between architecture, urban design and
urban society. South Africa is the first African country to be officially
invited to participate in this prestigious bi-annual event that has an attendance
of over 100 000 visitors and 3000 accredited journalists from around the world.
The Architectural Biennale will overlap with the high profile Venice Film Festival. The
South African participation was discussed amongst a wide spectrum of stakeholders
from Government, universities, academics and the South African Institute of Architects
during a workshop held on 13 March 2006 in Pretoria. The discussions identified
potential themes, messages, projects and exhibits for the South African participation
and in general discussed issues around the development of our cities since 1994. South
Africa has been allocated a 140sqm space in the Padiglione Italia (Italian Pavilion)
in the Giardini. The South African participation will be facilitated through
the South African Commissioner for the event Ambassador Lenin Shope, based in
Rome. South Africa's Consul General in Milan, Alwyn Figgins has been appointed
his Deputy. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa Department of Foreign Affairs
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0001 19 April 2006. | 
