In anticipation of Manifesta 9, the European Biennial of Contemporary Art, scheduled to take place from June 2 until September 30, 2012, in Genk, Limburg, Belgium, Biennial Foundation speaks with Manifesta’s founder Hedwig Fijen on the biennial’s identity, organization structure and curatorial characteristics.

Manifesta started as an alternative, experimental platform for contemporary art and has developed into one of the most prestigious and established art events. How can Manifesta continue to be culturally relevant?
What is unique about Manifesta’s mission statement and raison d’être?
In what way is Manifesta differentiating itself from other biennials in the world?
What are the tasks and activities of Manifesta Foundation apart from the biennial?
Who can apply for Manifesta?
What is its candidacy procedure?
What is the role of “site specificity” inherent to Manifesta?
How is Manifesta financed? What is its budget?
Manifesta has worked with different curatorial models. Can you elaborate?

These are some of the questions Biennial Foundation discusses with Hedwig Fijen.

For the first time in the history of Manifesta, the biennial will not only present an international, industry-leading selection of contemporary art. The exhibition will also consist of an impressive collection of historical works and will display the rich mining heritage in a surprising and innovative way to both local and international audiences.

Curator Cuauhtémoc Medina (Mexico City) developed the concept for Manifesta 9, addressing the social and societal impact of the recent past in Limburg. The exhibition The Deep of the Modern will be presented as a triptych. For the first section, 35 international contemporary artists are invited to create new work, paying heed to regional context, linking the local theme with global issues. The art historical section provides an overview of works of art from the 19th and 20th Centuries, with the impact of the coal industry as their subject. The third section focuses on the extensive legacy that the Limburg mining industry has left behind.

As the first in a series of in-depth interviews with biennial directors, Biennial Foundation talks with Hedwig Fijen, founding director of Manifesta Foundation.