Jelsa Art Biennial: From Encounters to Cohabitation

The Jelsa Art Biennial 2027, titled "From Encounters to Cohabitat," marks the tenth anniversary of “Networked Encounters”, the first project developed on Hvar dedicated to connecting people through contemporary art.

This year’s program explores how encounters evolve into lasting relationships and how diverse generations, genders, and disciplines can contribute to shared life within the confines of an island environment. The artistic concept views the island as a living habitat shaped by interdependence and local knowledge, as well as by migration, an aging population, seasonal tourism, and the environmental crisis. 

Coexistence is framed as a process of adaptation and mutual care, encompassing relationships not only between people but also with other species and natural resources. The program components include artist residencies, co-creation projects with the local community, exhibitions, performances, public space interventions, and educational and discursive activities. By linking contemporary art with ecology, architecture, design, and craftsmanship, the programme fosters intergenerational and interdisciplinary exchange.

In this context, art becomes a means of creating shared spaces and relationships, while the Biennale serves as a meeting point for artists, residents, and visitors - a space where coexistence is actively created.