The International Biennial Association (IBA) is pleased to announce the First General Assembly will be held in Berlin at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) on the 10th – 13th of July, 2014 during the 8th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art. The event with the focus on the inaugural ceremony of IBA will be open to the public, consisting of keynote lectures and panel discussions.

The conference will bring together artists, critics, art historians, curators, and biennial directors who influenced important questions and developments related to perennial art exhibitions. The conference will begin with the question “Why Biennial?” leading into the topic of “Biennial Writing, Re-assessing Art History”. The second question that will be addressed is “Why Associate?” opening up discussions on “Institutional Critique and How to be Self-Critical in Biennial Work”.

Over the last 50 years, biennials as a form of contemporary art exhibitions have increasingly become a focus of academic and critical inquiry. Biennials are becoming the most talked about artistic events and being reviewed more and more by art writers in order to highlight their innovativeness or the role they play in the local and international context.

Program

Thursday, 10th of July

Registration

Guided Tour 8th Berlin Biennale by Juan A. Gaitán (Curator, 8th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art) – IBA Members Only

Preview and Opening at the ifa Gallery Berlin: Moshekwa Langa: The Jealous Lover

Friday, 11th of July Open to Public

Welcoming Address

Keynote Lecture: Why Biennial? Maria Hlavajova, Artistic Director BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht and FORMER WEST

Panel Discussion: Biennial Writing – Re-assessing Art History

How do biennials as ephemeral exhibitions take their part in art history? What kinds of histories of the biennials are visible and readable? Is a new reading of art history based on perennial exhibitions possible? Are biennials as a format of the display of art exhausted or is it possible to think about different potentials?

Bruce Altshuler, Director, Museum Studies Program, New York University

Nicolas Bourriaud, Director, École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts/Curator, Taipei Biennial 2014

Juan A. Gaitán, Curator, 8th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art

Victoria Noorthoorn, Director, Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires

Moderated by Koyo Kouoh, Founding Director, RAW Material Company

Keynote Lecture: Why Associate?

Bartomeu Marí, President, International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art/Director, Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art

Panel Discussion: Institutional Critique – How to be Self-Critical in Biennial Work

How can biennials serve as instruments to open up cultural debates? Can they encourage plurality of diverse opinions and support the right to freedom of artistic expression? How do international/local as well as sources of funding influence the decisions about biennials? Is it the right time to be self-critical and incorporate institutional critique into the current debates?

Galit Eilat, Co-Curator, 31st Bienal de São Paulo
Hedwig Fijen, Director, Manifesta – The European Biennial of Contemporary Art
Geeta Kapur, Art Critic and Curator
Ahmet Öğüt, Artist
Moderated by Bige Örer, Director, Istanbul Biennale

Saturday, 12th of July- IBA Members Only

Opening Word from Yongwoo Lee, Interim President

Introduction of Interim Board

IBA Report

Deliberation

Board and Executive Election

First IBA Board Meeting

Preview Launch of the World Biennial Forum No 2 at the ifa Gallery Berlin

Celebration Dinner IBA

Sunday, 13th of July

Visit the 8th Berlin Biennale

All Venues

Be part of the First IBA General Assembly

How? Become a member in the network of art professionals and take part in the General Assembly by applying directly through the IBA website www.biennialassociation.org or alternatively download an application form and submit it to the IBA Office.

The International Biennial Association (IBA) is a nonprofit arts association composed of institutions, individuals and associates from the Biennial community and arts-related industry; created to expand and share activities of curatorial, artistic creation and knowledge production through cooperation and exchange among biennials and other institutions.

Executive Board (Interim)

President- Yongwoo Lee (Gwangju Biennale)
Vice President- Bige Örer (Istanbul Biennial)
Vice President- Marieke van Hal (Biennial Foundation) 

Board Members (Interim)

Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi (Sharjah Biennial)
Elke aus dem Moore (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen)
Marah Braye (Biennale of Sydney)
Donna De Salvo (Whitney Biennial)
Patricia Druck (Mercosul Biennial)
Margarita González (Havana Biennial)
Gabriele Horn (Berlin Biennale)
Hong-Hee Kim (MediaCity Seoul)
Helena Kontova (Prague Biennale)
Patrick Mudekereza (Lubumbashi Biennale)
Eriko Osaka (Yokohama Triennale)
Mauro Petroni (Dakar Biennale)
Thierry Raspail (Lyon Biennale)
Alya Sebti (Marrakech Biennale)
Alia Swastika (Jogja Biennale)
Sally Tallant (Liverpool Biennial)
Tan Boon Hui (National Heritage Board, Singapore)
Zhang Qing (International Biennial Research Center, China)

> via biennialassociation.org