Chronology of Venice Biennale

　　1961
Mostra del Cinema: Golden Lion to L'année dernière à Marienbad by Alain Resnais.

　　1962
Informal art was given an airing at the Art Exhibition with Fautrier, Hartung, Vedova, and Consagra. Mostra del cinema: Golden Lion ex aequo to Ivanovo Destsvo by Andrei Tarkovsky and Cronaca familiare by Valerio Zurlini.

　　1964
The Art Exhibition introduced Europe to Pop Art: the Americans exhibited in the building that used to house the US consulate at San Gregorio. Robert Rauschenberg was the first American artist to win the Gran Premio, and the youngest to date. Mostra del Cinema: Golden Lion to Il deserto rosso by Michelangelo Antonioni.

　　1966
Mostra del Cinema: Golden Lion to La battaglia di Algeri by Gillo Pontecorvo.

　　1967
Mostra del Cinema: Golden Lion to Belle de jour by Luis Bu?uel.

　　1968
Student protests hindered the opening of the Biennale. A period of institutional changes opened, ending up with a new Statute (1973).

　　1969
Following the protests, no awards were presented. These resumed in 1980 for the Mostra del Cinema and in 1986 for the Art Exhibition.

　　1972
For the first time, the International Art Exhibition had a theme (as also in following years): "Opera o comportamento" ("Work or Behaviour"). Music Festival: world premiere of Sylvano Bussotti's Lorenzaccio.

　　1973
On 26th July, the Parliament approved the Organisation's new statute. A "democratic" Board was set up (19 members), comprising representatives from the Government, the most important local organisations, major trade unions, and a representative of the staff. The Board was to elect the President and nominate the Sectorial Directors (Visual arts, Cinema, Music, Theatre). The Music Festival was no longer held annually. During the year in which the Mostra del Cinema was not held, there was a series of "Giornate del cinema italiano" (Days of Italian Cinema) promoted by sectorial bodies in campo Santa Margherita, in Venice.