Performa is a groundbreaking arts organization based in New York City, founded by art historian and curator RoseLee Goldberg. As a leader in contemporary performance art, Performa is dedicated to exploring the critical role of live performance in 20th-century art history while fostering new artistic directions for the 21st century.
Performa operates across four major areas: commissioning new live performances by American and international artists; producing the internationally acclaimed Performa Biennial every two years across New York City; providing educational programs, exhibitions, and print publications through the Performa Institute; and delivering performance-related content and research through digital channels and archives for a global audience.
Mission and Objectives
Performa’s mission is to:
- Commission and produce innovative, interdisciplinary live performances by leading contemporary artists.
- Support artists through all phases of performance development—from concept to final presentation—providing financial and production resources.
- Host the Performa Biennial, the only international biennial focused solely on interdisciplinary live performance, featuring over 30 new commissioned works and 12–20 additional performances co-presented with cultural institutions.
- Collaborate with art organizations and presenters worldwide to produce historically significant performance programs.
- Expand public knowledge through the Performa Institute, which serves as an educational platform for understanding performance art within the broader context of visual and cultural history.
Performa Biennial
Established in 2005, the Performa Biennial is recognized globally as the first biennial to emphasize the importance of performance in contemporary art. Held every other November, it transforms New York City into a stage for bold, experimental art practices. The Biennial presents a curated selection of newly commissioned performances and collaborative projects across multiple venues, from major institutions to unconventional urban spaces.
The Biennial functions as a dynamic forum for underrepresented voices and interdisciplinary collaborations, offering a diverse lineup that brings together artists working in visual art, theater, dance, music, architecture, and beyond. By showcasing new and influential works, Performa provides a vital platform for ideas and experimentation that might otherwise remain unseen.
A Global Platform for Performance Art
Performa plays a crucial role in advancing performance as a recognized and respected form within the visual arts. Through its commissioning program, it has facilitated the creation and premiere of significant early works by some of today’s most prominent figures in contemporary art. Performa’s model of integrating research, presentation, and documentation has helped elevate performance art within global critical and academic discourse.
The Performa Institute extends the organization’s mission through public lectures, panels, artist talks, and educational initiatives. It also contributes to performance scholarship with publications that highlight the historical and cultural significance of live art. In addition, Performa’s digital content strategy ensures that audiences around the world can access archival materials, interviews, essays, and performance footage.
Website: https://www.performa-arts.org/