Manifesta purposely strives to keep its distance from what are often seen as the dominant centres of artistic production, instead seeking fresh and fertile terrain for the mapping of a new cultural topography.
Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana took on the challenge of expanding from one single Host City to an extended regional scale of more than 5 million inhabitants. The ambition of the 15th edition was to develop a decentralised and collaborative approach to knowledge production and cultural programming in alternative venues in the metropolitan region. This edition reimagined the role of an international biennial in an era defined by ecological and social transformation.
Unfolding across 16 remarkable venues that channel the past, present and future of a more eco-social Barcelona and 11 cities in the metropolitan region: Badalona, Cornellà de Llobregat, El Prat de Llobregat, Granollers, L’Hospitalet, Mataró, Sabadell, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Cugat del Vallès and Terrassa.
Manifesta 15 was organised in three clusters, which are both thematic and geographic: Balancing Conflicts (Llobregat Delta), Cure and Care (Collserola massif towards Vallès) and Imagining Futures (Besòs River and its surroundings).
Visit the Manifesta 15 website for more information.
This edition served as a provocation or an invitation for people to step outside their urban comfort zones and recognise their proximity to, and the transformative power of, culture as a catalyst for change. It encouraged individuals to uncover their varied (and untold) histories and critically reflect on the futures of their cities and metropolitan regions. By fostering dialogue and collective experiences, it inspired communities to reimagine their relationship with urban spaces and consider more inclusive and sustainable ways of living.