Kyiv is applying to host the famous European nomadic Biennial of contemporary art - Manifesta, the press service of the Kyiv mayor has reported.

"Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko signed a letter of application for hosting the famous Biennial of Contemporary Art Manifesta in the Ukrainian capital. If approved, the Biennial will be held in 2022 and will provide Kyiv with at least 200,000 additional tourists from different countries of the world," Kyiv City State Administration said on Wednesday, October 10.

The note says Manifesta is extraordinary popular and has reputation as a bold experimental cultural event.

"The Biennial began in the Netherlands after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The goal was to create a forum for contemporary art that would reflect the trends in Europe better than conservative art exhibitions. The Biennial changes its location every two years, deliberately avoiding the dominant centers of artistic production. The changing location of the Biennial works as insurance against corruption and allows you to attract representatives of young European art," Kyiv City State Administration said.

Deputy Kyiv Mayor Viacheslav Nepop said holding Manifesta in Ukraine would emphasize the status of Kyiv as the cultural center of Europe.

"We will create an additional platform for the dialogue of domestic and foreign artists, we will be able to present national artistic achievements and practices, as well as develop the direction of event tourism," he said.

The application was initiated by the Ukrainian Institute - a state institution that represents Ukraine abroad.

According to Diana Popova, Director of the Department of Culture of Kyiv City State Administration, Kyiv has already proven its ability to host large-scale European events such as Eurovision and the Champions League final.

"Therefore, we will be happy to host one of the most important European forums of contemporary art in the capital of Ukraine," the official said.

The popularity of Manifesta is provided by a large-scale program that includes not only an exhibition of works, but also educational events - seminars, discussions, publications. Events within the Manifesta stretch over time for two or more years, holding the attention of lovers of modern art to the chosen venues of the Biennial.

In 2016, 150 artists took part in the Biennial in Zurich, and 1,400 journalists covered the event. During the period of the Manifesta, 33.6% of the guests of Zurich arrived purposefully at the Biennial. In general, this art event brought Zurich investments of 21.2 million Swiss francs.