Alvaro Barrington in Backyard Biennial: East Group exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery

Backyard Biennial: East is an 8-week, free, summer arts festival initiated by Whitechapel Gallery in collaboration with more than 40 local partners across East London.

Titled East and featuring exhibitions, installations, screenings, performances, workshops, residencies, walks, open studios and special events, this first iteration of Backyard Biennial will celebrate the unique historic, cultural and creative identity of the East End, and pay tribute to its many diverse communities and industries.

A flagship of Whitechapel Gallery’s 125th anniversary year, this innovative pilot project is designed to reframe what an arts biennial is and who it is for. It proposes a vibrant and evolving model for community participation and audience engagement, continuing the Gallery’s commitment to working with local stakeholders to create sustainable cultural and social infrastructures.

The Biennial will take place across a range of local venues, including art galleries, cultural and grassroots organisations, educational centres, places of worship and other public arenas.