St. John's 
The Bonavista Biennale, a month-long celebration of art, ideas, and unique experiences, is set to return for its fourth edition from August 19 to September 17, 2023.
Camille Turner, Afronautic Research Lab: Newfoundland Edition, 2019, video still, video performance, mixed media. Created for the 2019 Bonavista Biennale.
This year’s event, titled “Host,” invites visitors to explore connections and relationships between people, perspectives, life forms, and locations.
The Biennale boasts a strong representation of artists from Newfoundland and Labrador, fostering a thoughtful dialogue with artists from across Canada, Indigenous nations, and beyond.
The 2023 Bonavista Biennale features 23 artist projects along the rugged coast of the Bonavista Peninsula. Projects will be showcased in unconventional outdoor and indoor spaces, including historical sites, industrial buildings, outport villages, beaches, and cliffsides.
The event is free and open to all, and will include workshops, talks, performances, and other programs that emphasize the bond between art, people, and place.
The curatorial theme, “Host,” revolves around the concept of exchange and invites artists, community members, and visitors to participate in creative conversations. The Biennale acknowledges Land and Water as primary hosts, representing expansive histories, intricate knowledge, and the foundation for contact points across urban, rural, personal, and collective scales.
Lindsay Katsitsakatste Delaronde, working image for Sturgeon Woman Rising performance, 2023. Photo: Marina Glassford. Courtesy of the artist.
Participating artists hail from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous and Inuit artists, as well as those from various locations across Canada. In a first, the Biennale has partnered with other organizations to commission new work. Notable commissions include a performance piece by Lindsay Katsitsakatste Delaronde, a mural by Jessica Winters, a whale bone carving by Billy Gauthier, an outdoor installation by Couzyn van Heuvelen, and an architectural structure by K. Jake Chakasim.
The opening weekend (August 19-20) will see artists, co-curators, and curatorial advisory members gather to celebrate the launch of the 2023 Biennale. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear from the creators behind this year’s event, with artists present at their sites to engage with audiences. The weekend will also feature talks, performances, and a public opening party.
If you are wondering what to do on the peninsula, the region, located about three and half hours away by car from the provincial capital, truly captures the essence of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Credit: Stuart White/Legendary Coasts
Nestled among rocky shores, pebble beaches, and picturesque fishing boats, small clusters of houses embody the charm of the Bonavista Peninsula.
Rich in history and natural beauty, the area boasts the Ryan Premises National Historic Site and the Bonavista Museum, which celebrate the region’s salt fish trade.
The Cape Bonavista Lighthouse offers stunning views of icebergs, puffin nesting grounds, and humpback whales. The Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark invites visitors to explore geological wonders and ancient fossils, while the Dungeon’s cliffs showcase a massive sinkhole formed by ocean erosion.
So pack your bags, and plan a trip to Bonavista this summer. The bi-annual event promises a memorable experience, encouraging creative dialogue and connection between diverse artists and audiences in a stunning coastal setting.
