Manifesta Celebrates Hedwig Fijen's 33 Years of Leadership

Last weekend, Manifesta brought together colleagues, cultural professionals and friends in Amsterdam to celebrate Hedwig Fijen as she steps down after 33 remarkable years as Director of the European Nomadic Biennial. The farewell celebration offered an opportunity to reflect on more than three decades of bold artistic experimentation and cultural exchange.

The gathering reunited people from different chapters of Manifesta's history, many of whom have worked alongside Hedwig Fijen throughout the years. The evening was not only a tribute to her extraordinary contribution to the European cultural landscape, but also a celebration of the friendships, partnerships and lasting connections established under her leadership.

Festivities took place at the Oosterkerk in Amsterdam, a former church that has been transformed into a space for cultural and community gatherings. Manifesta extends its warm thanks to Stadsherstel for hosting the celebration in this special setting.

During the evening, the new Chair of the International Foundation Manifesta Supervisory Board, Bercan Günel, delivered a speech honouring Hedwig Fijen's achievements and legacy. Manifesta’s new General Director Emilia van Lynden presented Hedwig Fijen with The Story of Manifesta: The Story of Hedwig Fijen, a special publication created by the Manifesta team as a token of appreciation. Beautifully designed by Urtina Hoxha and Elvira Thaqi, the book brings together personal stories and contributions from across all past editions of the biennial.

Manifesta extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined the occasion and to the many individuals who have contributed to the biennial's development over the past 16 editions.