Following confirmation by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) that the public tender process for the 2026 Venice Biennale would not be issued, Art Periodic South Africa (A°P) submitted an unsolicited proposal in October 2025 to administer, fundraise, and produce the South African Pavilion. After due consideration, this proposal was formally accepted by the Department. While DSAC continues to support the Pavilion through the rental of South Africa’s exhibition space in Venice, A°P is receiving no financial funding from the Department and is independently responsible for raising all production, operational, and logistical costs. Given the extremely short lead time, A°P is working with urgency to realise the Pavilion through a process that remains as transparent, inclusive, and sector-led as possible. The organisation’s long-term goal is to establish a sustainable framework that enables future editions of the Pavilion to be planned with adequate time, deeper consultation, and broader national participation.