WHAT IS MANIFESTA?

I. INTRODUCTION > WHAT IS MANIFESTA

1. WHAT IS MANIFESTA?

2. MANIFESTA BASIS

3. AIMS OF MANIFESTA

 

1. WHAT IS MANIFESTA?

Manifesta, the European Biennial of Contemporary Art, is a roving, contemporary art event, showcasing the most innovative work by artists and curators from Europe and beyond.

In the early 1990s, Manifesta was launched as a unique, roving art event, a project devised by a Dutch initiative that took shape as the International Foundation Manifesta (IFM) later simply referred to as Manifesta Foundation, an independent and non-profit organisation with its offices in Amsterdam. As a response to the political and economic changes brought about by the end of the Cold War and the consequent moves towards European integration, it aspired to provide a dynamic platform that could support a growing network of visual arts professionals throughout the Europe. For this reason, from the outset Manifesta proclaimed that alongside its organization of biennial exhibitions, it aimed to stimulate an expanding artistic network and to develop ongoing workshops for research and experimentation, involving individual artists and artistic communities from diverse backgrounds from all over the continent.

Manifesta has an unique concept, being the first itinerant biennial event in the world. It has been developed in the last century after the fall of the Berlin Wall in order to reflect critically on the notion of “Europeanness” in the constantly changing framework of Europe’s identity. Every two years Manifesta selects a new Host City or Region from a series of candidates from different European countries who make a Bid to become the future Host of Manifesta.

Every edition is organised by a permanent team of international staff, experienced in previous editions of Manifesta and cultural specialists who merge together into one efficient operative team with local and regional specialists, including the every two years newly selected team of international curators. The curators are artistically responsible for the thematic approach of the project and for the selection of the artists. Manifesta is a community based project: this means that its success is depending on the way the international and the local players are collaborating and involving the local communities into their discourse. It also means that Manifesta aims to establish a close dialogue on all levels between the local cultural and artistic context and the broader, international contemporary art world. Manifesta has a pan-European vocation and in each edition has successfully involved artists, curators, young professionals and trainees from as many as 40 different countries. Manifesta also values the importance of creating links with Europe’s neighbours in Asia, the eastern Mediterranean and Northern Africa. At the same time, it continues to focus on minority groups and cultures within Europe itself.

The European cities or regions hosting previous editions of Manifesta have been selected by the Manifesta Board and its Director, according to a sequence of flexible criteria, including social, political and geographical factors, financial considerations, infrastructure and institutional stability, expert personnel and, of course, the general artistic and intellectual context. New hosts are appointed after up to three years of careful study, following a solid process of consultation, site visits and research, carried out by members of the Board and Manifesta staff, all of whom are senior art professionals from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Any European city, region, island or multiple-city candidate can apply to host an edition of Manifesta.

Each Manifesta edition is mutually organised by the Manifesta Foundation and diverse local bodies, creating a new model of synergy for each consecutive biennial. The organisational blueprint of the Manifesta model guarantees a realistic approach of organising a complex large perennial event within the time limits of 1,5 years.

Every two years Manifesta mobilises people, ambitions, dreams and knowledge in order to create new networks to aid in the realisation of the Manifesta Biennial. The relations Manifesta creates with the local host community and international input given to an area is one of the inherent characteristics of the roving biennial. In keeping with the aims of the International Foundation Manifesta these newly created networks and this infused knowledge are not intended to go to waste after two years. We do not see audience development and staff training as one-off projects but rather as structural research and learning issues. The learning from each project Manifesta develops should inform future practice.

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2. MANIFESTA BASICS

Manifesta Basics:

• Each edition of Manifesta is different from the last
• The local context defines possibilities
• Synergy between permanent team in Amsterdam and local team in Host City
• Manifesta prides itself on creating possibilities for artistic experimentation and innovation
• In order to facilitate such room for experimentation and innovation on artistic level, a strong and strict organization structure based on Manifesta’s expertise combined with local know-how needs to be implemented and accepted by all parties involved

Manifesta is:

• a collaborative, experimental project
• clear mandates and procedures
• a clear division of tasks and responsibilities
• an audience focussed project

Manifesta is not:

• a Franchise
• an NGO
• a political program
• local, global, but glocal
• an UFO

Manifesta in short:

• English is the lingua franca
• Artistic experimentation
• Focus on sustainable impact and audience development
• Learning process from one Manifesta edition to the next
• Transparency and respect of European laws
• Responsibility towards public funders and stakeholders

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3. AIMS OF MANIFESTA

The aims of Manifesta, the European Biennial of Contemporary Art are:

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