Manifesta

Origins and history

Dutch art historian Hedwig Fijen founded Manifesta in 1994, and it is coordinated by the Amsterdam-based International Foundation Manifesta. The inaugural gathering took place in Rotterdam, bringing local creators together with international figures. Over subsequent decades, the nomadic exhibition travelled across the continent, staging editions in locations including Luxembourg, Ljubljana, Frankfurt, San Sebastián, and northern Italy. Each iteration responds to the specific social or geographical setting of its host, though regional political tensions and global health disruptions have occasionally forced cancellations in cities like Nicosia and Marseille.

Community and education

A core element of every biennial is its mediation and education initiative. Long before exhibitions open to the public, an education team arrives in the chosen city to conduct fieldwork, mapping exercises, and discussions with residents. Working alongside local associations and creative practitioners, the team designs research projects, workshops, and critical discussions. These collaborative efforts seek to root the festival in local knowledge and ensure that contemporary cultural discourse remains accessible to diverse audiences across the host area.

Locations and themes

Manifesta shifts its thematic focus with each host venue, frequently engaging with post-industrial, historical, or repurposed civic architecture. In Palermo, the festival interpreted urban migration and syncretism through the metaphor of a shared garden. In Pristina and the Ruhr region, projects made direct use of municipal spaces and former churches to examine the reuse of buildings after their original functions ended. By transforming unconventional sites across multiple neighbouring towns or whole provinces, the biennial encourages audiences to explore regional transformation firsthand.

How Manifesta is kept

Every two years, the festival sets up in a newly selected European territory. Organisers and educators begin by surveying the host location, establishing partnerships with community groups and local artists. Curators then invite an international roster of creators to produce works tailored to local spaces, from historic landmarks to decommissioned public buildings. Over several months, visitors attend exhibitions, community workshops, guided mediation sessions, and public debates spread across multiple venues or interconnected cities.

When and where

Manifesta takes place biennially, occurring once every two years. Exact exhibition dates vary depending on the host city and season, typically spanning several months over the summer and autumn.

The festival has no permanent venue. It moves across different European cities and regions for each edition, having been staged in places such as the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Kosovo, Spain, and Luxembourg.

What Manifesta means

Manifesta views contemporary art as a vehicle for dialogue across borders and cultures. By shifting location continuously, the biennial reflects the changing social, political, and historical landscape of Europe. Its projects often use civic and architectural metaphors to explore migration, shared space, community renewal, and how distinct cultures coexist.

Questions people ask about Manifesta

See also

Christmas carolFestive songs and hymns sung during the Christmas season and door to doorMorris danceA rhythmic English folk dance performed in costume with bells, sticks and handkerchiefsCante jondoA solemn and profound vocal tradition of Andalusian flamenco song.Andalusi classical musicA classical suite of vocal and instrumental music shared across North Africa

Good reading and sources

• The art world takes on RussiaThe Guardian, Article
• The art world takes on RussiaThe Guardian, Article

• Manifesta on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.