Overview
On 26 September 2017, Sharjah Biennial director and Sharjah Art Foundation president and director Hoor Al Qasimi was elected the new president of the International Biennial Association (IBA). With this election, which took place during the IBA’s fourth General Assembly at the Yokohama Triennale in Japan, the location of the IBA headquarters will transfer to Sharjah from its original office in Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
The IBA brings together prominent international art professionals who organise periodic festivals and events to exchange information and perspectives on cultural events, support artists and artistic production and establish networks for communication and cooperation.
Al Qasimi succeeds founding president Yongwoo Lee, former president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation.
Since the establishment of the IBA in 2013, Al Qasimi has served as an active member of its board. Speaking about her election, she stated, ‘I am honoured to have been elected as the second president of this important international organisation after serving on the board alongside my esteemed colleagues representing a wide range of biennials around the world. During my term in office, I will work towards the development of the International Biennial Association and its mission to support and collaborate with a growing network of members. We are looking forward to the relocation of the IBA office to Sharjah in the near future.’