What is BIENALSUR?

BIENALSUR is a unique biennial event dedicated to contemporary art, culture and thought: decentralised, democratic, horizontal and humanistic, addressing the most diverse issues of our time. It is also the largest cultural event currently in existence, comprising a network of 130 venues in 76 cities across 34 countries on five continents.

BIENALSUR is a non-commercial initiative promoted by an Argentine public university: the National University of Tres de Febrero (UNTREF).

Its starting point is an expressive symbol of the meeting of cultures: Km 0 at MUNTREF (Museum of the National University of Tres de Febrero), located at the Hotel de Inmigrantes in the city of Buenos Aires. From there, it unfolds a new transnational cartography of contemporary art that stretches over 19,640 kilometres, simultaneously connecting art spaces, creators, audiences and communities across all continents.

BIENALSUR began in 2015, based on a series of Global South meetings that gave rise to a dynamic project based on dialogue, exchange and presentations that make up a diverse and sustained public programme. The first edition took place in 2017 with the participation of more than 400 artists in around 80 venues in 34 cities in 16 countries. In 2019, the map expanded to 112 venues in 47 cities in 21 countries. And in 2021, despite the pandemic, it took place in 120 venues in 48 cities in 24 countries in the Americas, Asia and Europe. 

Over the course of the first four editions, more than 2,500 artists and curators from around the world participated. In 2025, the fifth edition of BIENALSUR will take place in more than 135 venues in 35 countries, with the participation of more than 400 artists and curators.

Recognitions

Since 2019 BIENALSUR has the General Patronage of UNESCO. Also in 2019 the platform incubated at UNTREF was selected as a cultural project for the International Forum for Peace, Paris.

2021 BIENALSUR was distinguished by the Jorge Luis Borges International Foundation.

2022 BIENALSUR received the Konex Award as a cultural institution.

2023 BIENALSUR received the Gratis Artis prize awarded by the National Academy of Fine Arts.

ANÍBAL JOZAMI

/ GENERAL DIRECTOR OF BIENALSUR

Aníbal Jozami is a sociologist specialized in International Relations, a businessman and an art collector. He is the rector emeritus of the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero and the Director of the museums of the same university (MUNTREF). In 1993, Jozami founded the Foro del Sur Foundation, a nongovernmental organization whose mission is to gather political, business and academic leaders to formulate state policies for South America. In 2015 the culture ministers of the South American countries, endorsed the BIENALSUR project because of the interest for the region and its global projection. He was distinguished for the French Republic with the Chevalier of the Ordre of the arts and the Ordre al Merit.

DIANA WECHSLER

/ ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF BIENALSUR

Diana Wechsler has a doctorate in Art History, is a CONICET (National Council for Scientific and Technical Research) researcher and a curator. Vice Rector of the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF), artistic director of the museums of the same university (MUNTREF), she also directs the Instituto de Investigación en Arte y Cultura Dr. Norberto Griffa and the Master in Curatorial Studies at UNTREF. Professor of Argentine Art at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), she has obtained scholarships and grants such as the Getty Foundation Postdoctoral Scholarship and the awards for Art Essays and Curatorships from the International Association of Art Critics and Scientific Production of the Argentine Senate. Selected as a member of the Abattoirs Acquisition Committee, Frac Occitanie Toulouse, she was distinguished by the French Republic with the honorary title of Chevalier des Palmes Académiques.