The International Cultural Festival of Contemporary Art (IFCA), in Algiers brings together 70 artists from 39 countries, in a unique meeting, to celebrate art and creativity in the world under the motto: “for a new heritage”.
The exhibition will be held at the Moufdi Zakaria Palace of Culture in the capital city of Algiers, Algeria from November 26 to December 7, 2024.
The Romanian artist Lucian Muntean was selected by the festival jury to exhibit works of art and is invited to participate in the events of the festival.
The countries participating in the 8th edition of the International Cultural Festival of Contemporary Fine Art are:
Algeria, Palestine, Sweden, USA, Romania, Kuwait, France, Lebanon, Canada, Bahrain, Mexico, Iraq, Paraguay, Syria, Kenya, Tunisia, Nigeria, Zambia, China, South Africa, Jordan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Thailand, Egypt, Italy, Libya, Ireland, Mauritania, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Sudan, U.K., Australia, Spain.
The Curator of the Festival is Hamza Bounoua, an internationally known Algerian artist.
For New Legacy
“In 2024, we have the honor of holding the prestigious International Festival of Contemporary Art (IFCA) in Algiers.
Providing an opportunity to celebrate the visual arts through a diverse and varied schedule of events, the 2024 of the IFCA will take place under the topical and highly relevant theme ‘For a New Legacy.’
As the name suggests, this year’s festival will provide a timely opportunity to celebrate the visual arts, but also underline the vital role earmarked for them in driving sustainable development and promoting cultural diversity – two of our most pressing current fundamental values.
This approach has been meticulously devised to align with the UNESCO 2005 Convention on Diversity of Cultural Expressions, a key pillar for the preservation and protection of global cultural diversity, which Algeria endorsed in 2015.
By taking this pivotal step, Algeria has demonstrated both a commitment to protecting the freedom of cultural creativity and recognition of the impact that artists can make through their work in societies worldwide.
Cultural diversity and intellectual exchange are acknowledged as being decisive elements for peace, well-being and humanity.
‘For a New Legacy’ will pay tribute to artists and their critical role as guardians of our cultural heritage. Through a series of exhibitions, workshops, talks and debates, we will explore how we can forge a legacy that enriches our understanding of identity and expression by combining the best of contemporaneity and tradition.
With legacy a focal point of this year’s event, IFCA 2024 will not only celebrate art, but also explore ways in which it can help to build a society in which culture and creativity are pillars of our shared future.
A challenging and complex external environment has weighed heavily on the contemporary art scene’s development, spawning an abundance of globalized and hybridized cultural forms. These have often emerged at the expense of local expressions, making it difficult for the development of localized art landscapes based primarily on native history, cultural material and heritage.
In a bid to stem this concerning trend, cultural policies have been introduced aimed at restoring a balance by revisiting, interpreting and revaluating local cultures. These initiatives are spotlighting and supporting protagonists who draw inspiration from their local heritage and culture in their work, helping to celebrate and preserve their local identity through the arts and, simultaneously, protect it from the introduction of international influences which so often prove to be bland, irrelevant or both.
Among the questions that we will be exploring at IFCA 2024 is whether, through these and other related cultural policies, we are able to create a distinct, diverse contemporary art landscape, which links various national art and cultural scenes together, but simultaneously ensures that they maintain their unique identity. We will also consider how we can establish a knowledge-based foundation, with the capacity to develop independently and generate innovative means of understanding and interpreting local culture, in a global context.
These and many other topical issues will be on the IFCA 2024 agenda and also highlighted in the artworks showcased at the festival.
The dialog that artists enter into with their local heritage in their work is crucial, whether it’s tangible and intangible, subtle or overt. The added value lies in the way that heritage and authenticity are exploited to convey messages and ask questions about contemporary matters, even interpreting topical issues and offering global solutions.
The International Festival of Contemporary Art 2024 welcomes artists from around the world to help us create a much-needed platform that can serve as a starting point for localized cultural production, aligning and connecting with the global art scene. We are confident that this key event will provide the ideal time and place to embark on this crucial course of action”.
Hamza Bounoua, the Curator of the International Festival of Contemporary Art IFCA
