IBA 9th General Assembly and Conference

National Library of Kosovo. © Manifesta 14 Prishtina Atdhe Mulla.

IBA 9th General Assembly and Conference
Co-hosted by Manifesta 14
October 18, 2022 – October 22, 2022

Manifesta 14 Prishtina will host the 9th General Assembly and Conference of the International Biennial Association (IBA) offering a unique occasion for the members of the IBA and the general public to engage with the 14th edition of Manifesta, the European Nomadic Biennial, one week before its official closure on October 30, 2022.

Manifesta 14 Prishtina centers around new practices and modes of collective storytelling as a method of commoning. The biennial intertwines artistic interventions by 102 participants with the histories of local buildings in 25 locations. Manifesta has rehabilitated an unused railway line, renovated a dilapidated library into a community and educational hub, and kick-started the process of converting Prishtina’s largest post-industrial site, a derelict brick factory, into a new cultural hub, all with the aim to reactivate and revitalise public space in Kosovo through which Manifesta 14 also aims to leave a long-term legacy.

The programme of the 9th General Assembly of the International Biennial Association (IBA) will revive Donna Haraway’s idea of situated knowledges, as a means of understanding that all knowledge comes from positional perspectives. The public conference will examine the broadening of the traditional biennial exhibitionary format, addressing contemporary biennials as tools for educational, cultural, and social development, with a focus on a community-oriented approach.

Biennial practitioners from around the world will present alternative education models, originated in times and places of crisis (conflict, pandemic, climate change) or embracing art and contemporary thinking as central elements of their methodology. How can a biennial be a model for education and community transformation? What is the power of culture in a (post)-conflict time? How do we shape curricula and take into consideration all the different peoples? And what can we learn from artists’ projects in which the boundaries between pedagogy and artistic creation are blurry?

This year, Kosovo marks 14 years of independence. With half of its roughly 2-million-strong population under the age of 25, it is Europe’s youngest country with the youngest population. Evidently, the topic of education is key.

Why participate and join us in Prishtina?

The engagement, contribution and participation of all its members have made it possible for the International Biennial Association to become a space of continuous dialogue on the role of biennials in our societies. IBA has  explored the ways in which the model developed and continues to do so adapting to the challenges and new sensitivities in the arts and society beyond through a series of talks, events and conferences.

IBA is first and foremost a community and as such its most important quality lies in the possibility of gathering and discussing together to provide support, advice and collaborative structures to each of its member’s organizations. Throughout the last decade and together with our members IBA has developed cooperation programs between biennials, acted as an advocacy platform for biennials in need and provided a platform for biennials to showcase their projects while at the same time building a valuable archive.

For any questions regarding this or other IBA events please don’t hesitate to contact us at info [​at​] biennialassociation.org and keep updated via the website.

For information and updates about Manifesta 14 Prishtina, please see: manifesta14.org.

To facilitate the organization of the event as well as make sure the IBA and Manifesta 14 Prishtina are aware of your needs we invite you to fill in the following form.

Looking forward to meeting you in Prishtina!