Our team
Each edition of Manifesta is managed by a mix of permanent international team members and local specialists. Manifesta works from its offices in Amsterdam and the Host City.
From its headquarters in Amsterdam, the permanent team of Manifesta provides the backbone to the governance and production of the European Nomadic Biennial. For each edition of Manifesta, the permanent team conceptualises a new project with the partners of the Host City. The Manifesta team works for extended periods on location to ensure the synergy between their international experience and local expertise is embedded as a legacy in the Host City. The continuity of Manifesta is based on openness, collaboration and knowledge transfer, propelled by a continuous stream of activity, in which research and curatorial innovation play an essential role.
- DirectorHedwig Fijen
Hedwig is the Founding Director of Manifesta. Under Hedwig’s direction, Manifesta has developed into one of the most important large-scale art events in Europe. Hedwig is in charge of all aspects of the Manifesta organisation including the selection of host cities for the biennial, thematic content and the curatorial selection. The final execution of the concept of the curators is her responsibility.
- Manifesta 15 General CoordinatorGemma Segarra
Gemma manages the coordination, planning and overall execution of Manifesta 15 Barcelona. She specialises in management of large-scale international events within the technology industry, the arts sector and sport competitions.
Business Department
The Business Department creates the administrative, legal and financial backbone structure in each edition and is liable for managing all financial, HR, legal, administrative, operations and governance aspects of the organisation.
- Head of BusinessMassimiliano Lodi
Operating worldwide since the beginning of the 2000, Massimiliano has successfully supported, through different appointments, a wide array of cultural projects. Specialist in the development of complex projects such as Cultural Districts and large Museums’ development, with attention to effective operational startegies, and financial sustainability. Massimiliano has operated extensively in the Arab Gulf region, Australia, and Europe.
- Business CoordinatorAndré Vidigal Almas
André leads the digital transformation of business processes and workflows in the Manifesta headquarters in The Netherlands and host countries. He supervises and monitors financial and administrative procedures, ensuring that the business department maintains high levels of support throughout the organisation.
- Manifesta 15 Business CoordinatorXavier Vigas
Xavier is focused on business and administration in non-profit organitsations in Catalunya in the arts and social sector.
Development
The Research and Development Department researches a diversity of complementary funding models, fundraising for Manifesta 15 Barcelona, creating sustainable relationships with (inter)national public and private funders, including individual giving, sponsorships and other partnerships.
- Head of DevelopmentMarieke van Hal
Marieke is in charge of a multi-annual research and development strategy for Manifesta Foundation spanning multiple Manifesta biennials. She is in charge of building long-term sustainable relationships with funders including private giving, corporate sponsorships and other partnerships. Marieke first joined the team in 2002 for M4 Frankfurt (until 2007) and returned during Manifesta 11 Zurich in 2016.
- Manifesta 15 Development CoordinatorDayana Orozco
Dayana coordinates the fundraising actions locally and promotes Corporate Cultural Responsibility as part of the development and marketing strategy of Manifesta 15 Barcelona, approaching companies committed to culture, arts, and innovation. During her career she has worked on projects related to creativity, communication, branding, positioning and organisation of events
Education
The Education and Mediation programme is an essential part of Manifesta that derives from encounters with a variety of home-based actors in Manifesta Host Cities, including inhabitants, educators, artists, historians, activists and associations. In each Manifesta edition, the programme takes different shapes while always placing audiences and collaborators at its centre.
- Head of Education and LearningYana Klichuk
Yana is in charge of the development of all educational strategies for the Biennial. Yana is an expert in education programmes for visual arts. . Together with the curatorial team, local colleagues and stakeholders, she is shaping the strategies of situating the biennial in the social context of the host cities and engaging diverse audiences. She joined the team in St. Petersburg at Manifesta 10 in 2014.
- Education and Mediatior CoordinatorJordi Ferreiro
Jordi is an artist and educator. He has collaborated in Mediation departments of MACBA (Barcelona), MNCARS (Madrid), Museo del Oro (Bogota), Khunstall Bergen (Norway) among many others. Jordi works closely with the Head of Department on the Education and Mediation programmes of both Manifesta 14 and Manifesta 15.
Communications, Marketing, Publications and Audience Development
The Communication, Marketing, Publications and Audience Development Department oversees the brand strategy, PR and media partnerships, design and brand identity, digital communications, community management, events, marketing, as well as creating all the publication for Manifesta. The department manages both internal and external communications.
- Head of Communications, Marketing, Publications and Audience DevelopmentEmilia van Lynden
Emilia oversees the overall communication and marketing activities of Manifesta, covering brand strategy, PR and press, design and brand identity, digital/social, events, marketing, media partnerships, as well as all of the publications created by Manifesta.
- Manifesta 15 Marketing & Press CoordinatorDiana Jové Borras
Diana has previously worked as a head of marketing and PR strategies within the national and international art and cultural scene. Through her strong networks within the scene, she enriches the cultural ecosystem through cross-marketing, partnerships, collaborations and communication campaigns.
- Manifesta 15 Communication CoordinatorBelén Giménez
Belén holds extensive experience as a head of communication linked to both the cultural and third sector. She has been responsible for cultivating and managing communication strategies, creation of campaigns, media relations, social media content and digital development.
Production
The Production Department accompanies the conceptualisation of the programme and is responsible for the implementation of ideas into concrete structures. This is executed in close collaboration with external contributors such as creative mediators, artists, participants, local stakeholders and team members.
- Head of Production and ProgrammingTatiana Tarragó
Tatiana manages the coordination, design, and production of the Biennial. She specialises in the coordination of large-scale international events. Tatiana has been working for Manifesta since Manifesta 8 Murcia in 2011, when she joined the local team.
- Communities Coordinator Manifesta 15 BarcelonaFernando Paniagua de Paz
Fernando likes to work at the crossroads between social and solidarity economy, community management and communitarian culture. In his spare time, he also offers creative input to Festival Real 360º, Espai en Blanc and No Callarem.
- Production CoordinatiorNuria Marques
Núria is a contemporary culture producer and artist. She has worked for a vast array of contemporary art projects and organisations in various national and international contexts.
Manifesta 15 Barcelona Board Members
Hedwig Fijen is the Founding Director of Manifesta, since its origin in Rotterdam in 1993. Before Manifesta, she worked as a curator at the Netherlands Office for Fine Arts. She has lectured and written extensively on Manifesta and alternative biennial models. Fijen oversees all aspects of the Manifesta organisation, including the selection of Host Cities and thematic/conceptual content. Under Fijen’s direction, Manifesta has transformed the biennial from a contemporary art platform into an interdisciplinary platform for social cultural change.
Jordi Marti teaches Cultural Management at several universities and has held several key positions at the City Hall of Barcelona. He is currently the Deputy Mayor of Culture, Education, Science and Community of the City of Barcelona, as well as Commissioner of City Presidency, Economy and City Budget.
Josep Bohigas was co-director of the BOPBAA Architecture studio from 1991 to 2015. He is now the general manager of the Urban Development Agency Barcelona Regional, and the general manager of the Urban Ecology Agency of Barcelona.
Marta Clari is the Managing Director of the 6th Deputy Mayor in Culture, Education, Science and Community of the City Hall of Barcelona. She is also the supervisor of all the Consortiums and cultural foundations of Barcelona, including Auditorium and Orchestra, Palau de la Música, MNAC, Museu Marítim, Fundació Picasso, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Fundació Joan Miró amongst others.
Hendrikje Crebolder is an established lawyer, joining the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam as a lawyer and business developer in 2006. In 2009, she set up the Development department and in 2017 joined the Rijksmuseum’s Board of Directors. As Director of Development & Media, she is responsible for fundraising, stakeholder management, communication, marketing and (online) publications.
Kathleen Ferrier works in international cooperation, as an academic professor and has served as a member of parliament in the Netherlands for over ten years. Ferrier is involved in issues related to human rights and democracy; she is currently the chair of the Dutch UNESCO Commission.
Eva Soria Puig is currently the Director of Innovation, Research and Visual Arts at the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona. She teaches Intellectual Property as an associate professor at the UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya), and was previously the coordinator for visual arts, architecture and design at Institut Ramon Llull (the Arts Council of Catalonia).
Joan Subirats is the Minister of Universities of the Government of Spain. With a PhD in Economics from the Universitat de Barcelona, Subirats is a Professor ofPolitical Science and founder and researcher of the Institute of Government and Public Policies of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. From 2018 to 2021 he was the Commissioner of Culture and Deputy Mayor of Culture, Education and Science of the City of Barcelona.
Niels de Ru he is a partner at the international law firm Allen & Overy LLP and heads the banking department at Manifesta's Amsterdam office.