This past year, the Manifesta Foundation has been advising the initiators of “Utopia” the new itinerant visual arts project which will be held every two years in different Asia Pacific cities. Members of the Utopia Steering Commitee including Mr Yusaku Imamura and Ms Alison Carroll have visited the Manifesta Foundation in Amsterdam and Manifesta 8 in the region of Murcia on several occasions.

Utopia will comprise of core and satellite exhibitions, cultural exchange projects, residencies, workshops, education programs and web access that strongly connect local and international communities. The organizers have used Manifesta as a model for the new roving event which counters the challenge of mounting and sustaining biennales in one city by offering an adaptive model. Participating cities include: Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Taipei, Hangzhou, New Delhi, Singapore, Chiang Mai, Manila, Yogyakarta, Melbourne and Auckland.

As Ambassador for European Culture Manifesta aims to allow learning and expertise developped during Manifesta projects to  inform and inspire future practice. Manifesta is keen to share its acquired knowledge with stakeholders across the globe.

The first event of Utopia is scheduled for 2012. More information on Utopia can be found: here

Picture (left to right): Hedwig Fijen, Director Manifesta, Yoeri Meessen, Education & External Relations Manifesta, Yusaku Imamura, Steering Commitee Utopia