Marti Manen to step down as Director of Index

Marti Manen to step down as Director of Index – The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation in February 2026

The board of Index – The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation announces that Marti Manen will step down from his position as Director, effective February 2026, following the opening of the re-staging of the exhibition that Index presented 20 years ago with Harun Farocki.

Marti Manen has served as Director since 2018. Under his leadership, Index has reaffirmed its commitment to collaboration, experimentation, and public-facing programming. Based in Stockholm, the foundation remains rooted in a human-scale non-profit structure while expanding its global reach. During his tenure, Marti Manen has guided Index through an extremely interesting period of institutional experimentation, deepened its engagement with international contemporary art practices, and reinforced its role as a key platform for critical dialogue and artistic research in Stockholm and beyond.

Marti Manen comments: “It has been eight fantastic years of working alongside artists, colleagues, and audiences. I believe now is a good moment for Index to embrace a new chapter and for me to embark on a different path. I remain deeply committed to the institution’s mission and look forward to a brilliant future for Index. Index is an example of how to work with complex matters while maintaining proximity — a platform for artists and diverse audiences alike. Many exhibitions and projects will remain vivid memories. Over these eight years, we have been able to offer a wide range of exhibition formats, emphasize learning, integrate artistic research into the institutional field, and share processes with many other institutions, platforms, and practitioners.”

“Together with Isabella Tjäder, we have defined an exciting program for the whole of 2026, offering a soft landing for new members of the Index Team. I would like to thank Index board for their constant support, all the artists and cultural workers who have been part of Index during my time, and, of course, the amazing individuals who have formed the Index Team. It has been an honor to work with all of you.”

The Board has initiated a process to select a new Director for Index. Further details will be announced in due course.

About Index – The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation
Index is a non-profit foundation focused on contemporary art, conversation, and culture, based in Stockholm. With a history spanning more than 40 years (as a foundation since 1998), Index works with both international and local artists, emphasising collaboration, criticality, and dialogue.