The Venice Biennale is one of the oldest cultural organizations: it was set up in 1893 and two years later organized the first International Art Exhibition; it then became an autonomous body, and today is an interdisciplinary Foundation concerned with architecture, visual arts, cinema, dance, music, and theatre.

The Venice Biennale organizes the International Art Exhibition, the International Architecture Exhibition, the Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica, and international Festivals of performing arts like Dance, Music, and Theatre.