The Anozero art biennial will return to the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova in Coimbra in 2026, confirmed José Manuel Silva, President of the Coimbra City Council. This secures the continuation of the biennial at its current location for another year, which is a source of great satisfaction for the organizers.
In late 2024, the Círculo de Artes Plásticas de Coimbra (CAPC), which co-organizes the biennial with the City Council and the University of Coimbra, noted uncertainties regarding the venue for 2026 due to plans to convert the monastery into a hotel, potentially delaying Anozero’s preparations.
Speaking at the conclusion of a solo exhibition coinciding with Anozero, Silva emphasized continued efforts to ensure the biennial becomes a lasting tradition. However, the decision regarding the venue for 2027 will fall to the next city council administration, given that municipal elections will take place on October 12.
Silva noted ongoing efforts to explore the former Pediatric Hospital as a potential venue. CAPC Director Carlos Antunes expressed mixed feelings about the 2026 location, describing it as a temporary solution rather than a long-term one, likening the biennial’s situation to a phoenix that is reborn each year, which he finds regrettable.
Antunes expressed concerns over the lack of a permanent solution for the biennial, fearing that the organization may face the same uncertainty a year from now, after the next Anozero edition. Unlike Silva, he believes that waiting for post-election decisions is not viable, as the biennial’s success should not rely on electoral cycles.
Antunes highlighted his commitment to keeping the biennial at the monastery as long as the hotel does not become operational, despite his personal anxiety over the current state of affairs.
Delfim Leão, vice-rector of the University of Coimbra with responsibilities in cultural affairs, affirmed the benefits of hosting the biennial at the monastery and hopes for a permanent solution that retains its prestige. He stressed that the venue chosen beyond 2026 needs to sustain the biennial’s national and international prominence.
The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova, previously central to the Anozero biennial, is set for a requalification project, transforming it into a five-star hotel following a public tender awarded to Soft Time for a 50-year concession. This decision faced criticism from CAPC and many cultural practitioners who signed an open letter advocating for the biennial’s continuation at the site.
This stance was echoed by artist Janet Cardiff, who, alongside George Bures Miller, concluded their solo exhibition “A Fábrica das Sombras” at the monastery today.
