On 8 May 2025, the Grenada Pavilion opened at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, marking a significant moment in the nation’s cultural engagement on the world stage.
Under the theme “Echoes of Knowledge: Reawakening the National Library,” the pavilion addresses the longstanding closure of Grenada’s historic Public Library and National Archives, which has remained unused since 2011 due to damage from Hurricane Ivan.
Commissioned by Dr Susan Mains, with curators Fulvio Caputo and Luisa Flora, the pavilion presents a comprehensive study and design proposal for revitalising the library. The input of Grenadian architect Irina Kostka-DaSilva was invaluable. Mapping the community desire, she surveyed the Grenadian population, receiving responses in artwork, poetry and photography.
Doctoral candidate with the European Graduate School and artist Asher Mains provided a written treatise highlighting the very need for libraries for a culture and people to grow. This initiative emphasises the library’s role as a cultural and educational hub, integrating sustainable architectural practices and community involvement to envision a future-oriented institution that resonates with Grenada’s social and environmental context.
The pavilion garnered a visit from the international jury of the Biennale Architettura 2025, led by Hans Ulrich Obrist, with members Paola Antonelli and Mpho Matsipa. The International Jury of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia is composed of Hans Ulrich Obrist (President), Swiss curator, critic, and art historian, Artistic Director of the Serpentine in London; Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, and Director, Research and Development at MoMA in New York; and Mpho Matsipa, South African architect, lecturer, and curator. Antonelli mentioned that she remembered the Grenada Art Pavilion from 2024.
While the Kingdom of Bahrain received the Golden Lion for Best National Participation, the Grenada Pavilion’s focus on cultural restoration and community engagement was noted as a meaningful contribution to the Biennale’s overarching theme, “Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.”
Representing the Minister of Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Senator Adrian Thomas, Dr Oliver Benoit remarked, “This is a great first step towards the necessary work of restoring and reopening the National Library. The follow-on will take the expertise and skills of many. The determination of all those involved is notable.”
Grenada’s continued participation in the Venice Biennale underscores its commitment to cultural diplomacy and the global discourse on architecture and heritage. By spotlighting the restoration of a vital public institution, the pavilion not only addresses local concerns but also contributes to international conversations about the preservation and evolution of cultural landmarks in the face of environmental and societal challenges. The pavilion was made possible by funding from the Grenada National Lotteries Authority, the Grenada Tourism Authority, and many corporate and personal sponsors from Italy, Grenada, and beyond.
The Grenada Pavilion in Venice will remain open until the end of November, Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm. Free entrance. See website grenadavenice.org.
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