Manifesta

Manifesta is a European biennial of contemporary art that operates as a nomadic festival, moving to a different host city for each edition. Established in 1996 in Rotterdam by curator Hedwig Fijen, its aim is to explore the social and political contexts of Europe through contemporary art and to rethink the relationship between art, audience, and place. Each edition is organized around a curatorial team that develops a central exhibition and a program of site-specific artworks, performances, conferences, and educational events in collaboration with local museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. Because the venue changes with every edition, works are often placed in non-traditional sites—public squares, urban neighborhoods, and civic spaces—alongside conventional galleries.

Over the years, Manifesta has staged editions in a variety of European settings, from Western and Southern Europe to Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, highlighting debates about migration, memory, ecology, urban development, and cultural identity. The project is run by the Manifesta Foundation, based in Amsterdam, with partnerships with local authorities and cultural organizations in the host city. Manifesta has been described as one of the most high-profile, if controversial, platforms for contemporary art, noted for its ambitious scale and for provoking discussions about curatorial practice, funding, and the role of art in public space. Critics have pointed to logistical complexity and sponsorship pressures, while supporters emphasize its capacity to introduce international artists to new audiences and to animate urban spaces with experimental art.