The Biennale of Sydney is a non-profit organisation that presents Australia's largest and most exciting contemporary visual arts event. Held every two years, the Biennale stages a three-month exhibition, plus a program of artist talks, performances, forums, film screenings, family events, guided tours and other special events, all FREE to the public. The third oldest biennale in the world, the Biennale continues to be recognised for showcasing the freshest and most provocative contemporary art from Australia and around the world.
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The Biennale of Sydney is a non-profit organisation that presents Australia’s largest and most exciting contemporary visual arts event. Held every two years, the Biennale stages a three-month exhibition, plus a program of artist talks, performances, forums, film screenings, family events, guided tours and other special events, all FREE to the public. The third oldest biennale in the world, the Biennale continues to be recognised for showcasing the freshest and most provocative contemporary art from Australia and around the world.
Biennale venues combine established and high-profile museums, dedicated contemporary art spaces, heritage sites and buildings, as well as outdoor city areas. In 2010, the 17th Biennale of Sydney was situated across the heart of the city in a series of venues: Cockatoo Island, Pier 2/3, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Artspace and the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Grand Court).
The Biennale has an outstanding track record and since 1973, has presented 17 critically acclaimed, popular and large-scale exhibitions – bringing the work of 1500 artists from over 83 countries to the city of Sydney. From small beginnings, the Biennale quadrupled in size in less than a decade and progressively reached an important place in Australia’s art calendar. In 2010, attendance soared to over half a million visitors.
The Biennale’s evolution has been pivotal in promoting cultural exchange with Australia, championing free expression, unveiling new ideas and challenging the status quo – a history of ‘firsts’ that has attracted a healthy dose of controversy and public debate over the years.
Instrumental in bringing many of the world’s leading and most established artists to Sydney, the Biennale has quickly achieved international recognition and today it ranks as one of the leading international festivals of contemporary visual art and multimedia.
