Manifesta Director Hedwig Fijen Proposes Kyiv as Host for 2028 Edition

Hedwig Fijen, the founder and director of Manifesta, has suggested that Ukraine could be the venue for the 2028 exhibition in Kyiv. This proposal was revealed during a press conference that marked the launch of Manifesta 14 in Pristina, Kosovo. Fijen expressed her desire to aid in the restoration of Ukraine’s cultural infrastructure over the next six years. The exhibition would be a collaborative effort between the Manifesta Foundation and the Ukrainian Institute for Culture, incorporating previous and future host cities to support local Ukrainian art and educational institutions. The Ukrainian Institute has already submitted a letter of intent for what would be Manifesta 17 in 2028. Kyiv has previously attempted to host Manifesta twice, with the last effort in 2018 thwarted by the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region after Russia's annexation of Crimea. Following the Russian invasion, Fijen began discussions on this initiative, which has garnered significant enthusiasm from both Ukrainian and European stakeholders. Preparations for projects could commence as soon as next year.