[artinfo] World Biennial Forum No 2

[e-flux]

World Biennial Forum No 2
November 26-30, 2014

Auditório Ibirapuera
Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral s/n 
Parque Ibirapuera
São Paulo - SP, 04094-050 
Brazil

<http://interspire.e-flux.com/link.php?M=116335&N=8782&L=6557&F=H>www.worldbiennialforum.org
<http://interspire.e-flux.com/link.php?M=116335&N=8782&L=1428&F=H>www.biennialfoundation.org

Organized by: 
Biennial Foundation
Fundação Bienal de São Paulo
ICCo - Instituto de Cultura Contemporânea 

Directed by: 
Charles Esche, Galit Eilat, Nuria Enguita Mayo, Pablo Lafuente, and Oren Sagiv 

On the occasion of the 31st Bienal de São Paulo 
(September 6-December 7), Biennial Foundation is 
pleased to announce the World Biennial Forum No 2.

The World Biennial Forum is a gathering of 
biennial practitioners and appreciators to 
examine and discuss the foremost topics and 
concerns within international contemporary arts. 
The World Biennial Forum's role is to signal 
primary concerns in biennial art environments, 
investigating and researching the various modes 
of operation and production in different regions, 
and offering insights into the current issues and 
needs surrounding art biennials worldwide. 

The five-day event, from November 26 to 30, will 
be composed of thematic debates open to the 
public, internal workshops for biennial 
organizers on practical aspects of biennial work, 
as well as optional guided tours of exhibition 
venues in and out of São Paulo.

The Forum's practice is to work as a partnership, 
hosted first by the Gwangju Biennale in South 
Korea (WBF No 1, 2012). The World Biennial Forum 
No 2 will be organized in collaboration with 
Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, ICCo - Instituto de 
Cultura Contemporânea, and the Ministério da 
Cultura do Brazil. It will form an integral part 
of the public program of the 31st Bienal de São 
Paulo, curated by Charles Esche, Galit Eilat, 
Nuria Enguita Mayo, Pablo Lafuente, and Oren 
Sagiv, who will also function as the Forum's 
artistic directors.

Luis Terepins, President of the Fundação Bienal 
de São Paulo, has said, "I believe that the 
Bienal de São Paulo should be a stage for a 
discussion on exhibition formats and, more 
generally, the role of art in society today, and 
should take on the challenge of hosting the WBF 
No 2. The Bienal de São Paulo's role is to 
continuously search for new configurations, 
reflections and propositions. Collaborating with 
the Forum is yet another way for the Bienal de 
São Paulo to develop and reaffirm itself."

Founding Director of Biennial Foundation, Marieke 
van Hal, is honored to have found new partners 
for the World Biennial Forum in Brazil. "The 
Bienal de São Paulo stands out internationally 
because of the way it expands access to the world 
of art for a diversified public, by enabling 
people of a range of ages, social classes and 
cultural levels to take part in its activities. 
I've always been impressed by the Bienal de São 
Paulo and its emphasis on serving the whole 
community. It will be interesting to see in what 
way it can work as an example and inspiration for 
other biennials internationally." 

ICCo - Instituto de Cultura Contemporânea, raised 
the funds for the Forum and will be in charge of 
the coordination and production locally. As 
Artistic Director of ICCo - Instituto de Cultura 
Contemporânea, Daniel Rangel comments, "The first 
Forum proposed pertinent discussions, creating 
invaluable interconnections between biennials and 
all those involved in their activities. Bringing 
the WBF 2 to São Paulo is important, as it will 
allow us to create an atmosphere for learning, 
exchanging and building on one another's 
experiences and practices on a global level. I 
look forward to exploring what contemporary art 
biennials can share."  

An introductory preview launch of the World 
Biennial Forum No 2 is scheduled to take place in 
Berlin during the General Assembly of the 
International Biennial Association at Ifa's 
Gallery on July 12.


Biennial Foundation (BF) is an independent NPO 
founded in the Netherlands (2009) to create a 
spirit of solidarity among biennials worldwide, 
and to facilitate a diversity of platforms for 
the exchange of information and expertise. 


For initial enquiries
Biennial Foundation
Lisa Mazza: <mailto:lm at biennialfoundation.org>lm at biennialfoundation.org
<http://interspire.e-flux.com/link.php?M=116335&N=8782&L=1428&F=H>www.biennialfoundation.org 
 

ICCo - Instituto de Cultura Contemporânea
Julia Saleme: <mailto:wbf2 at icco.art.br>wbf2 at icco.art.br
<http://interspire.e-flux.com/link.php?M=116335&N=8782&L=17099&F=H>www.icco.art.br

Fundação Bienal de São Paulo
<http://interspire.e-flux.com/link.php?M=116335&N=8782&L=6338&F=H>www.bienal.org.br


WBF No 2 is presented by the Ministry of Culture of Brazil, and Banco Itaú. 

Partners: Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria de 
Cultura e Secretaria do Verde e Meio Ambiente, 
Ifa - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Itaú 
Cultural, Auditório Ibirapuera, IBA - 
International Biennial Association. 

Sponsors of WBF No 2. Launch, Berlin: Federal 
Foreign Office/Germany, Embassy of the Kingdom of 
the Netherlands/Berlin.