Dak'Art Biennale: A Guide to Contemporary Art in Dakar

Dak'Art is the Dakar Biennale of contemporary African art, one of the major events on the continent's art scene. It is held every two years in the Senegalese capital, around an official international exhibition, associated shows and many parallel events called the Off. This page explains what it is and how to experience it; for dates, always check the official announcements.

A biennale born in the 1990s

Dak'Art began in the early 1990s. The first editions alternated between several disciplines before focusing on contemporary African art, with an international exhibition, prizes and professional meetings. It follows in the line of the 1966 World Festival of Black Arts, which had made Dakar a continental cultural stage.

We deliberately stay cautious about precise historical details (the exact years of each change of format): for research, refer to the Biennale's official publications.

How the Biennale is organised

In general, several strands can be distinguished:

• The international exhibition, the core of the event, presenting artists from the continent and its diaspora.
• Associated or special exhibitions, in different venues around the city.
• The Off, a broad programme of exhibitions, performances and meetings run by galleries, collectives, studios and independent venues across Dakar.
• Meetings and talks for professionals: critics, curators, collectors.

How to experience it as a visitor

A few practical tips:

1. Check dates and programme with official sources: we do not announce dates here, as they can change.
2. Allow several days: venues are spread out, and getting around Dakar takes time.
3. Mix official and Off: the international exhibition gives you the thread, the Off gives you the texture of the local scene.
4. Book accommodation early if you are coming from abroad.
5. Keep time for independent venues: studios, galleries, villas turned into exhibition spaces.
6. Take breaks: between two shows, a coffee or a lunch helps you digest what you have seen.

Why the Biennale matters

For artists, it is an international showcase and a chance to meet curators and collectors. For visitors, it is a way to grasp the diversity of African scenes. For Dakar, it is a reminder that it is a place of creation and dialogue, a theme we continue in our article on pan-Africanism and contemporary art.

Seeing art in Point E

Outside biennale periods, you can see contemporary art in Dakar all year. In Point E, the ge'eza gallery, at 656 avenue Birago Diop, shows artists from East and West Africa, with works available to buy. We do not publish any Biennale programme or future dates here: check the events page to see what the house organises.

The house is also a useful break for a biennale visitor: Ethiopian breakfast from 8am to 11am, lunch, a coffee ceremony, dinner until 10pm. Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays. See the gallery page.

Preparing your visit

A biennale is prepared like a small trip. A few useful habits:

• Map the venues before you leave and group them by neighbourhood to limit travel.
• Keep flexible hours: some venues open late or by appointment, especially among the Off.
• Bring something to take notes: many visitors regret not having kept an artist's name.
• Find out about artist meetings, which often give the key to a work.
• Ask about purchasing if you wish to acquire a work: certificate of authenticity, shipping, terms.

What you see

Contemporary African art covers very diverse practices: painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation, textile, performance. It would be wrong to look for a common style. What stands out is the variety of approaches and of questions addressed: memory, identity, the city, the environment, circulation between regions of the continent and its diaspora. A biennale works like a snapshot of these concerns at a given moment.

Finding your way between official and Off

A simple tip: start with one venue of the official exhibition to take the pulse, then follow your curiosity through the Off. Ask galleries and independent venues what they recommend: local tips are often the best. Distances in Dakar are measured in traffic time more than kilometres: group visits by area.

Buying art during or after the Biennale

The Biennale is also a showcase for galleries and collectors. If you are considering a purchase, take your time: compare, ask about the artist and technique, and insist on a certificate of authenticity. For shipping abroad, check the terms before committing. The principles are the same as for a protocol gift, which we detail in our guide to art as a diplomatic gift.

Making the most of a short stay

If you only have two or three days, do not try to see everything. Pick one strand of the official programme, one or two Off venues in a single area, and leave an evening free to talk about what you have seen. Art is best digested slowly: a long lunch, a coffee, a walk between two venues. Dakar rewards visitors who accept a slower pace, and the conversations that follow an exhibition often teach as much as the exhibition itself. Write down a few names and questions each evening, so that you can follow up on the artists who caught your attention once you are home.