What is GIBCA?

GIBCA is an abbreviation of Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art: in Swedish Göteborgs Internationella Konstbiennal. GIBCA was initiated in 2001 by the Cultural Commitee of the City of Gothenburg and since 2006 Röda Sten Konsthall is the organizer of the biennial. In 2020 the biennial will be at its 11th edtion.

What is a biennial?

The definition biennial originates from the Italian word biennale, which can be translated into ”every second year”. The concept is often used to describe an international gathering of contemporary art, architecture, dance, or theatre. Art biennials emphasize highly topical trends and issues within art and society. The first and largest biennial is the Venice Biennial (La Biennale di Venezia) that has been arranged since 1895.

How do I visit the biennial?

Check information on the venues on the website and download the visitor guide for each edition.

When you are visiting the biennial, you find most information in the GIBCA newspaper. In the exhibition spaces, the artworks are also accompanied by texts on the walls, and our staff is happy to answer your questions. You are also welcome to join our guided tours, workshops and talks, along with film screenings and concerts. There is a lot happening during the biennial!

Why should I visit the biennial?

The biennial brings up questions and themes of interest both locally and internationally. You might discover new stories, different points of view or question yourself the world with new tools. It may give you new thoughts or evoke old emotions.

Art may be an escape from everyday life as well as a chance to reflect on it. Art may be critical against something, and you can find it intimidating as well as beautiful. It may deal with matters of politics, society structures, identity, historical events, or different scenarios for the future – things that are important to us today. It might question how we live our lives and show us the world from someone else’s perspective.

At the contemporary art biennial, you get a unique opportunity to see art works by internationally acknowledged artists from all over the world that are usually not shown in Gothenburg or in Sweden.