Harlem Biennale (HB) is a new non-profit arts organization in New York (USA), combining a focus on Harlem and Upper Manhattan with community-engaged artistic practices.
Harlem Biennale will bring together artists, curators, educators, scholars and the public from Harlem, New York and around the world, to connect with Harlem’s history, geography and diverse communities through innovative multidisciplinary explorations in contemporary art. Our model offers an ongoing program of events, exhibitions, performances, artist residencies and art education leading into each bi-annual event.
Harlem Biennale was founded in 2009 by a group of Harlem residents led by artist Edward Hillel. Our vision is inspired by Harlem’s rich history. With its legacy of welcoming the world’s diasporas and challenging social norms, as well as its prominence as a Black and Latino Mecca, Harlem’s cultural vitality can bring together diverse sectors into new dynamic partnerships and nourish future generations. Harlem Biennale’s focus on showcasing place and stimulating the international exchange of current arts practices is the ideal framework to launch a second sustainable Harlem Renaissance.
Harlem Biennale is a 501(c)3 non-profit partner organization of the Fund for the City of New York.