ABSTRACT
The contemporary art biennial has proliferated internationally to the point of ubiquity in the past few decades. Of primary importance in understanding this phenomenon is the relationship between biennials and the disparate cultural contexts in which they exist. This paper examines the growth of the biennial as a responsive exhibition model that can be successfully adapted to connect and engage art, audiences, and local environments. Focusing specifically on Prospect.1, the biennial that took place in New Orleans from November 2008 to January 2009, this paper analyzes how the biennial model has become a platform for social engagement, signaling a shift toward the development of the biennial as ethical art practice.
