Manifesta 12 Palermo: The Film
Titled The Planetary Garden. Cultivating Coexistence, this year’s edition has been curated by a team of transdisciplinary working Creative Mediators: Bregtje van der Haak, Dutch journalist and filmmaker; Andrés Jaque, Spanish architect and researcher; Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli, partner of the Rotterdam-based firm OMA; and Mirjam Varadinis, Swiss curator at Kunsthaus Zurich. M12 was organised by a team of 40 local and international professionals and more than 100 volunteers.
Manifesta 12 Palermo took place in 20 iconic buildings, palazzos, gardens and churches, many of which have been reopened after years of abandonment by the Manifesta 12 team. Along with the main programme, Manifesta 12 Palermo has presented a rich programme of Collateral Events with more than 70 projects. Along with the M12 Collateral Events, Manifesta 12 has organised a new programme called 5x5x5 that aimed at developing long-term professional relations and networking between Palermo cultural communities and Manifesta’s diverse network of artists, galleries and academic institutions. Additionally, with more than 50 free screenings at Teatro Garibaldi, at the garden in via Primo Carnera in Zen2 realised in collaboration with local association Zen Insieme, and at Arena La Sirenetta that was reopened by Manifesta 12 team after 12 years of abandonment, the Manifesta 12 Film Programme has had almost 3.500 visitors. More than 20.000 individuals have participated in the Education programme in the past two years, and 72 local associations and 34 public schools of Palermo participated as collaborators or partners. 822 guided tours have been conducted by Manifesta 12 special Gardeners, welcoming schools and social groups for free, and reaching out to a total number of 8.925 Tours participants.
Before closing its doors, M12 Palermo organised a roundtable discussion at Teatro Garibaldi on Sunday 4 November, in order to reflect collectively on the impact of M12 in the host city, and what it could mean for its future. Speakers were Leoluca Orlando, Mayor of Palermo, Andrea Cusumano, Councillor of Culture of Palermo, Hedwig Fijen, Director, the M12 Creative Mediators and team, and many local professionals and collaborators. The roundtable discussion has been followed by a handover ceremony from Manifesta 12 Palermo, represented by the Mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando, to Manifesta 13 Marseille, represented by the Councillor of Culture of the City of Marseille, Marie-Hélène Feraud. Manifesta 13 Marseille will take place from 7 June to 1 November 2020.
