Pristina to Host Manifesta 14 in 2022

Manifesta, the itinerant European contemporary art biennial, will hold its 14th edition in Pristina, Kosovo, in 2022. The announcement was made at a press conference in Pristina on May 23, 2019. The selection, made three years in advance, aims to deepen engagement with the host region. Pristina was chosen for its geopolitical significance in the Balkans and its recent history of neoliberal privatization of public spaces. Manifesta director Hedwig Fijen noted that Kosovo is undergoing a 'silent revolution' in mobility, with increased exchanges revitalizing regional relations. Pristina's mayor Shpend Ahmeti emphasized that the city, where 50% of the population is under 25, needs honest discussion about its future and that Manifesta symbolizes the rebirth of cities in the Western Balkans. The biennial seeks to provide tools for reclaiming public space as a radical cultural act. Previous editions include Rotterdam (1996), Luxembourg (1998), Ljubljana (2000), Frankfurt (2002), San Sebastián (2004), Cyprus (2006, cancelled), Trentino-Alto Adige (2008), Murcia (2010), Limburg (2012), St. Petersburg (2014), Zurich (2016), Palermo (2018), and Marseille (2020).