As Brent Biennial 2025 draws to a close, it feels timely to share a panel discussion I participated in last year, now available on the British Art Network website.
The panel, titled Festival Futures, was chaired by Marie-Anne McQuay (Curator of the Liverpool Biennial 2025) and featured my co-panellists Kim McAleese (Edinburgh Art Festival) and Ian Sergeant (University of the Arts London). It formed part of Curatorial Reimaginings, BAN’s Annual Conference, held in Birmingham on 28–29 November 2024.
The audio recording of the panel is up now on the British Art Network website. It is also available as a downloadable transcript.
Reflecting on this conversation is especially meaningful as Brent Biennial 2025 concludes after a 2.5-year journey. Recorded early in the BB25 process, the insights and expertise of Marie-Anne, Kim, and Ian were invaluable in shaping my thinking around the role of biennials and arts organising, especially in exploring the potential of community engagement and alternative formats.
My thanks once again to the British Art Network for hosting us, and my fellow panellists and chair for such a rich discussion.
Annie Jael Kwan 