Scotland's visual artists will once again be exhibiting at the internationally-renowned Venice Biennale, the world's largest showcase for the contemporary visual arts.

The Scottish Arts Council and the British Council will repeat their successful partnership from the 2003 Biennale and, for Venice 2005, they will be joined by the National Galleries of Scotland which will show the work from the 2005 Biennale on its return to Scotland.

The partners are now seeking a guest curator to work with them to develop the project in Venice and beyond.  The Biennale provides an outstanding opportunity to establish new relationships between Scotland's visual artists and galleries worldwide and to present work from Scotland on an international stage. In 2003, Scotland's Biennale exhibition, titled Zenomap, showcased work by Jim Lambie, Claire Barclay and Simon Starling in a palazzo amongst the Venetian canals.

Graham Berry, Director of the Scottish Arts Council announced the search for a curator and added: 'Given the tremendous success of Scotland's artists at the Venice Biennale in 2003 we are pleased to be able to confirm that Venice in 2005 will once again demonstrate the tremendous depth and quality of Scotland's visual artists.

'Our valuable partnership with the British Council also contributed hugely to the success of Zenomap in 2003.  It is also particularly exciting to be working with the National Galleries of Scotland who will bring the work from the Biennale to Edinburgh in late 2005.  Adverts for the curator will be placed shortly and the project will really begin to take shape when an appointment is made.'

The curator's role will be to identify and commission the artists who will show work at the Biennale and to seek new opportunities for collaboration with galleries outside Scotland and the UK.  The project team will also be inviting sponsors to become involved in what will be a high-profile, international platform for Scotland.

The Venice Biennale is held every two years and is the most prestigious international visual art event in the world.  More than 65 countries participate in the five-month event, with each country hosting an exhibition or pavilion dedicated solely to the work of its best artists.  Up to half a million visitors saw the 2003 exhibitions.