Kaunas Biennial: From Local Exhibition to Contemporary Art Platform Evolution Stages, Features and Management Models

ABSTRACT Contemporary art biennials are one of the most important events that last for two years in the context of the contemporary art industry. Contemporary art events and biennials in different cities of the world are appreciated not only for their cultural or artistic value but also because they help to increase local popularity internationally from the economic perspective, thus, ensuring circulation of the art industry as well as the economy of local and international contemporary art market. The article analyses the case of Kaunas biennial revealing its evolution stages, structural and management changes, and creating its management model. The historical development of Kaunas Biennial started back in 1997, and in 2013, Kaunas biennial was included into one of the largest biennial foundations in the world. The biennial changed its management structure, and in 2013, Public Institution Kaunas Biennial was established. The comparative analysis presented herein reveals the general features of contemporary art biennials, their organizational structure and management models. Therefore, the input of this article into the management theory shall be based on a newly systematized theory basis by providing general contemporary art biennial development opportunities and applicability in further research.