Biennale Gherdeina

Biennale Gherdëina is a contemporary art festival in Val Gardena, in the heart of the Dolomites, based on the exchange between people, plants, minerals, stories, languages and traditions. Nature and local culture meet the international art community to imagine and build a sustainable future. Through collaboration with artists, craftsmen, public institutions, cultural professionals and art enthusiasts, the Biennale addresses the most topical issues of contemporary public debate and rediscovers Val Gardena's unique cultural heritage. The next event, entitled "The Parliament of Marmots" will take place from 31. May to 1. September 2024 under the curatorship of Lorenzo Giusti. The ninth edition will be part of a broader network of initiatives that will also expand to the Bergamo area and the Orobie chain in the course of the two-year period 2024-2025, under the project title "Thinking Like a Mountain". The title of the Biennale Gherdëina’s edition is borrowed from a well-known Dolomite legend, which tells the story of the 'Fanes', a meek and peaceful people. The secret of the Fanes' prosperity lay in their alliance with the marmots that inhabited the plateau of the same name. When the alliance was broken because of a princess who was ashamed of her pact with the animals, the Fanes met with misfortunes and conflicts that led to the decline of the kingdom. Through different formats - including new productions for the public space, performances, solo and group exhibitions, and workshops open to the public - "The Parliament of Marmots" will gather the contributions of artists from different areas of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, bringing together in the wonderful natural setting of Val Gardena a multifaceted community, called upon to lay the creative foundations for a new strategic alliance between all species of the living world.