Celebrating World Art Day:
Art as a Bridge through History

On April 15th, we proudly celebrated World Art Day, UNESCO’s international recurrence dedicated to the development, diffusion and enjoyment of art. As the ultimate fuel for creativity, innovation, and cultural richness everywhere, art has the potential to convey meaning and emotions and guide people towards uncharted experiences.



Project MANIFEST is also directly involved in the promotion and diffusion of artistic prowess, as it aims to take the collective memory of the trade of enslaved people across the Atlantic, and all its heritage, to promote new artistic creation throughout Europe. This vision takes the shape of a dynamic Artistic Journey that accompanies and supports a number of selected artists in their creative process.



More than other means of expression, art can make us reflect on what cultural and historic legacies the transatlantic trade of enslaved people has left us. In doing so, it reinforces the connection between modern society and our collective memory as Europeans, between our past and present.



As MANIFEST strives to promote artistic expression in Europe, let’s acknowledge and celebrate the groundbreaking power of art to amplify often neglected and marginalised narratives.

Kalunga XR project received grant from OCA

MANIFEST extends congratulations to artists group Kalunga XR for receiving the International Support grant from OCA (Office for Contemporary Art Norway).



MANIFEST Consortium joins the celebrations of this achievement, which marks a significant milestone for the promotion of innovative artworks. We are grateful for the support of OCA for one of our project’s artwork. The grant will support the production expenses of our artists.



Kalunga XR is a MANIFEST project and the latest artistic endeavour of artists Bianca Turner and Luanda Carneiro Jacoel. Throughout an immersive experience, the performance aims at inspiring a reflection on the present meanings of Kalunga, an expression which translates both as ‘the sea’ and ‘burial grounds’, in relation to the history of transatlantic trade of enslaved people and the Afro–Diaspora that results from this journey throughout the sea. This audiovisual performance is based on a communication between music, dance and the installation that takes place in real time.



We thank all the Artists of MANIFEST for the successes they have shared with us along the way and we are proud of the strides and the impact that they are having in the art field around the world.

MANIFEST resource articles