The story
Biennale of Sydney in Sydney
The Biennale of Sydney is one of the world's longest-running contemporary art exhibitions, founded in 1973 and held every two years across major galleries and heritage harbour sites including Cockatoo Island. Free to attend, each edition is shaped by a different artistic director and brings together artists from dozens of countries, continuing a history of programming firsts in Aboriginal and Asian contemporary art.
Sydney's biennale began in 1973 as a single exhibition hall inside the newly opened Sydney Opera House, staged by businessman and arts patron Franco Belgiorno-Nettis with thirty-seven participating artists.