Manifesta is the European Nomadic Biennial, which originated in the early 1990s in response to the political, economic, and social change following the end of the Cold War and the subsequent steps towards European integration. Manifesta has developed into a platform for dialogue between art and society by inviting the cultural and artistic community to produce new creative experiences with, and for, the context in which it takes place. Manifesta rethinks the relations between culture and society investigating and catalysing positive social change in Europe through contemporary culture in a continuous dialogue with the social sphere of a specific place.
Manifesta was founded by the Dutch art historian, Hedwig Fijen. Each new edition is fundraised individually and managed by a mix of permanent international team and local specialists. Manifesta is working from its offices in Amsterdam and Marseille.
For its thirteenthedition, Manifesta takes place for the first time in France in Marseille in 2020. There could be no better city than Marseille to further expand Manifesta’s research and discussion about the challenges Europe is facing today. Manifesta 13 Marseille proposes to work with existing cultural institutions and associations, both symbolically and practically, by introducing different voices while expanding their narratives. With this ambition, Manifesta 13 Marseille will unfold through site-specific artistic commissions, performances, and urban interventions to imagine new forms of being together: Traits d’union.s.
The Manifesta 13 headquarters, Espace Manifesta 13, are located in one of the most iconic historical and central building in Marseille, former Espace Culture in 42 la Canebière. The space is one for encounters and exchange, welcoming the neighbourhood and its habitants. Manifesta 13 Marseille creates a programme consisting of exhibitions, lectures, debates, artist talks and invites actors from across the cultural sphere to take over the former Espace Culture. More information on the programme here.
WHY MANIFESTA 13 IN MARSEILLE
Marseille is:
Marseille is the fitting city to reflect upon global social, economic and political developments together with its citizens due to the presence of a multitude of cultural backgrounds.
From 28 August, Manifesta 13 Marseille will start to unfold gradually, with different launch dates for each initiative that composes either of the three programmes of this edition: the Central programme Traits d’union.s, the Education and Mediation programme Le Tiers Programme and the Collateral programme Les Parallèles du Sud across Marseille and the Région Sud.
On 28 August, one out of the various venues for the Traits d’union.s exhibition will open together with over 30 venues for Les Parallèles du Sud and, from Le Tiers Programme, the show Invisible Archive #6: Sound musical school B.Vice + Eva Doumbia + Famoudou Don Moye. The inaugural press conference will be live streamed on 28 August at 11:30am CEST.