# Bergen Assembly

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**Bergen Assembly** is an international contemporary art triennial held every three years in [Bergen](/source/Bergen), [Norway](/source/Norway). Founded in 2013, it was established as a platform for artistic research and long-term collaborative processes, positioning itself in contrast to the conventional biennial exhibition model.[1][2] Each edition is guided by one or more appointed conveners, who determine the curatorial framework and select participating artists and contributors.

## History

### Origins

Bergen Assembly originated from the Bergen Biennial Conference, held in 2009, which was initiated in response to a proposal by the Municipality of Bergen to establish an international art [biennale](/source/Biennale) in the city.[3] The conference brought together curators, artists, and scholars to debate the question “To biennial or not to biennial?”, critically examining the global proliferation of large-scale periodic exhibitions.

A key outcome of the conference was the publication of *The Biennial Reader* ([Hatje Cantz](/source/Hatje_Cantz_Verlag)/[Bergen Kunsthall](/source/Bergen_Kunsthall), 2010), an anthology addressing the history, theory, and politics of biennials and recurring exhibition formats.[4]

### Establishment

Following the conference, Bergen Assembly was formally established in 2011 as a triennial event structured around a flexible, convener-led format.[5] The model departed from a fixed curatorial template, instead inviting each convener to rethink the format and organization of the event.

Bergen Assembly operates on a three-year cycle and typically includes exhibitions, performances, talks, publications, workshops, and collaborative research projects. The emphasis is placed on process and inquiry rather than spectacle or scale.

## Previous editions

### Bergen Assembly 2013: *Monday Begins on Saturday*

Main article: [Bergen Assembly 2013](/source/Bergen_Assembly_2013)

The first edition of Bergen Assembly, *Monday Begins on Saturday*, took place in 2013 and was convened by [Ekaterina Degot](/source/Ekaterina_Degot) and David Riff.[6][5] Drawing its title from the novel by [Arkady and Boris Strugatsky](/source/Arkady_and_Boris_Strugatsky),[7] the edition took the form of an international exhibition, publication, and symposium presented across multiple venues in Bergen.[6]

### Bergen Assembly 2016: Tarek Atoui / freethought / PRAXES

Main article: [Bergen Assembly 2016](/source/Bergen_Assembly_2016)

The second edition of Bergen Assembly was held in 2016 and convened by artist and composer [Tarek Atoui](/source/Tarek_Atoui), the collective freethought, and the collaborative platform PRAXES.[8][2] Emphasizing sound-based practices, collective research, and performative formats, the edition foregrounded sensory and participatory modes of engagement.[8]

### Bergen Assembly 2019: *Actually, the Dead Are Not Dead*

Main article: [Bergen Assembly 2019](/source/Bergen_Assembly_2019)

The third edition of Bergen Assembly was titled, *Actually, the Dead Are Not Dead*, and was held from September to November 2019. It was convened by Iris Dressler and Hans D. Christ.[9][10] Presented across numerous venues in Bergen, the programme addressed themes of political assembly, ecology, migration, disability, and collective life through exhibitions, public platforms, and educational initiatives.[9]

### Bergen Assembly 2022: *Yasmine and the Seven Faces of the Heptahedron*

Main article: [Bergen Assembly 2022](/source/Bergen_Assembly_2022)

The fourth edition of Bergen Assembly took place from September to November 2022 and was convened by artist [Saâdane Afif](/source/Sa%C3%A2dane_Afif).[11][12] Titled *Yasmine and the Seven Faces of the Heptahedron*, the edition was organized around a fictional narrative involving a curatorial persona and seven character-based exhibitions.[11]

### Bergen Assembly 2025: *across, with, nearby*

Main article: [Bergen Assembly 2025](/source/Bergen_Assembly_2025)

The fifth edition of Bergen Assembly was titled, *across, with, nearby* (Norwegian: *på tvers, med, nær*), and was held from September to November 2025. It was convened by Ravi Agarwal, [Adania Shibli](/source/Adania_Shibli), and the [Bergen School of Architecture](/source/Bergen_School_of_Architecture).[13][14] The edition focused on neighbourliness, mutual care, and collective learning in response to social and ecological challenges.[13]

## Organization

### Management

Since 2019, Bergen Assembly has been directed by Ingrid Haug Erstad.[15]

### Advisory board

[Ina Blom](https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ina_Blom), Maria Hlavajova, [Ranjit Hoskote](/source/Ranjit_Hoskote), Solveig Øvstebø, [Anselm Franke](/source/Anselm_Franke), Anaïs Tondeur, and [Michael Marder](/source/Michael_Marder).[16]

### Executive board

Stein Olaf Onarheim (chair), Henriette Sölter, Antonio Cataldo, [Marit Eikemo](/source/Marit_Eikemo), Sveinung Unneland, and Karen Sofie Sørensen.[17]

### Funding

Bergen Assembly is primarily funded through public support, notably from the Municipality of Bergen and Arts Council Norway.[18]

## Reception

Critical reception has highlighted the festival’s ambition to rethink exhibition models and its experimental approach, while also noting challenges in presentation and coherence. *Frieze* emphasized both strengths and limitations of the 2019 edition’s polyphony of voices.[10] Norwegian press commented on the balance between artistic research and exhibition practices.[19]

## References

1. ["About Bergen Assembly"](https://bergenassembly.no/en/about). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["The Biennial That Wasn't"](https://kunstkritikk.com/the-biennial-that-wasnt/). *Kunstkritikk*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. Karlsen, Anne Szefer (ed.) (2009). *Localised*. Bergen: Ctrl+Z Publishing. ISBN 978-82-92817-07-0.

1. Filipovic, Elena; van Hal, Marieke; Øvstebø, Solveig (eds.) (2010). *The Biennial Reader*. Ostfildern: Hatje Cantz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7757-2610-8.

1. ["Bergen Assembly"](https://www.artforum.com/print/reviews/201312/bergen-assembly-44715). *Artforum*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Monday Begins on Saturday"](https://2013.bergenassembly.no). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. Strugatsky, Arkady & Boris Strugatsky (1977). *Monday Begins on Saturday*. Macmillan.

1. ["Bergen Assembly 2016"](https://2016.bergenassembly.no). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Bergen Assembly 2019: Actually, the Dead Are Not Dead"](https://2019.bergenassembly.no). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. Gordon-Nesbitt, Rebecca. ["Bergen Assembly: When the Polyphony of Voices Hinders Us From Listening"](https://www.frieze.com/article/bergen-assembly-when-polyphony-voices-hinders-us-listening). *Frieze*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Bergen Assembly 2022: Yasmine and the Seven Faces of the Heptahedron"](https://2022.bergenassembly.no). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Fiction as Exhibition Form"](https://kunstkritikk.com/fiction-as-exhibition-form/). *Kunstkritikk*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Bergen Assembly 2025: across, with, nearby"](https://2025.bergenassembly.no/en). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Think Tank Triennial"](https://kunstkritikk.com/think-tank-triennial/). *Kunstkritikk*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Bergen Assembly Team"](https://en.bergenassembly.no/team). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Advisory Board"](https://en.bergenassembly.no/advisory-board). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Executive Board"](https://en.bergenassembly.no/board). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Funding and Support"](https://en.bergenassembly.no/funding). *Bergen Assembly*. Retrieved 27 January 2026.

1. ["Bergen Assembly: Mer forskning enn kunst"](https://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/i/Pw6Oe/bergen-assembly-mer-forskning-enn-kunst) (in Norwegian). *Aftenposten*. Retrieved 12 January 2026.

## External links

- [Official website](https://bergenassembly.no)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bergen Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen_Assembly) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen_Assembly?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.