The Venice Biennale, a prestigious international art exhibition, has long been a platform for cultural discourse and international exchange. Amid the array of pavilions and installations, one collateral event has captured significant attention: the "All African People’s Consulate," conceived by the activist-artist Dread Scott (2024 Fellow) and partly supported by AAR’s Fellows Project Fund. Principal organizers and sponsors include Cristin Tierney Gallery, which represents Scott, and the Africa Center in New York.
In an article published in Wednesday’s issue of the New York Times, Scott's unconventional approach to art and activism takes center stage. Known for challenging power structures rather than perpetuating them, Scott has created a conceptual artwork that serves as a gathering place for the Black community in Venice.
The centerpiece of Scott's exhibition is the "All African People’s Consulate," an imaginative institution dedicated to advocating for the rights of Africans to freely navigate the world. This fictional consulate sheds light on the harsh reality faced by many Africans, with a staggering thirty percent visa rejection rate in Europe's Schengen Area, the highest of any region. Despite its fictional nature, the consulate has become a symbol of hope and solidarity for attendees of the Biennale. As the Times reports, Scott and his team have issued nearly 190 passports and 250 visas, creating a sense of belonging and community within the art world.