Léo Marin Appointed as Curator of Beaufort Triennial 2027

#announcement #Appointed curator

Léo Marin, who was born in France in 1987, has been appointed curator of the ninth edition of the Beaufort Triennial, due to take place in 2027. His appointment has been confirmed by the Westtoer Board of Directors and the mayors of the coastal municipalities. He is the first international curator of the Beaufort Triennial, which is organised by the provincial tourism agency Westtoer for the fourth time.

New curator

Léo Marin is an independent curator and art critic. Known by the pseudonym “Curator on the Run”, he has led projects in France and abroad in recent years, actively involving artists, communities and audiences in processes of listening, transmitting and transforming images, forms, objects and narratives. He is vice-president of AICA France (the International Association of Art Critics) and sits on the board of directors of C-E-A (the French Association of Exhibition Curators). He contributes actively to debates on curatorial formats, critical practices, and the political economy of art institutions.

“When I was thinking about a concept for the organisation of the Beaufort Triennial, I was struck by the fact that this artistic event brings together different communities, towns and places located along the coast to create a sense of unity. Acting in concert, they achieve something greater than the sum of their parts. A Shared Horizon becomes this shared future, envisaged as a field of experimentation in which art plays an active role, catalysing the collective imagination and encouraging reflection on our place in the world and the future. Each work invites us to participate in this shared vision,” explains Léo Marin.

Concept ‘A Shared Horizon’

A jury composed of representatives from contemporary art museums, tourist organisations and Westtoer selected Léo Marin’s application from among 48 proposals.

“The jury chose Léo Marin for his concept, A Shared Horizon, which he presented with conviction. His vision for the Beaufort Triennial is fresh and artistic, rooted in the coastal region and imbued with lightness and optimism, while never compromising on quality,” explains Mieke Dumont, coordinator of the Beaufort Triennial at Westtoer.
“The idea of the horizon is simple yet poetic, and accessible to a wide audience. Marin proposes a strong format, confident artistic choices, and a coherent overall concept for the exhibition. His approach is imbued with hope, colour, positivity and joy, but never falls into the trap of being overly simplistic or decorative.”

In addition to his work as a curator, Léo Marin pursues a practice that combines critical writing and research at the intersection of art history, anthropology, and visual culture. He contributes to publications and exhibition catalogues, and has collaborated with institutions including the Institut Français in Tokyo, Baghdad and Valencia, the Fondation Le Corbusier, the Maison de l’Amérique Latine, and the Drawing Lab Paris.

“For me, the Beaufort Triennial is much more than just an exhibition,” Léo Marin continues. “I see the next edition as a collective reflection on our future. I invite everyone to come together and see things differently, as a threshold to a shared future. It will be a collaborative project centred on artists, locations, and regional narratives. Rather than seeing it as a simple exhibition, I see it as a living intersection between stories, forms and desires for the future. The question is: how can we continue to grow and build a shared future that can serve as a beacon for everyone? Not just for the people who come to see the Triennale, but for those who live there every day too.”

All coastal municipalities are participating

All ten coastal municipalities have confirmed their participation in the 2027 edition. Beaufort27 will take place from 22 March to 7 November 2027. The Province of West Flanders is providing full support for this edition, investing €2 million in the project.
The event is being organised by Westtoer, an independent provincial company, in partnership with the coastal municipalities, and with Mieke Dumont as coordinator.

Jurgen Vanlerberghe, Provincial Councillor in charge of Tourism and Chairman of Westtoer:
“Since 2003, Beaufort has become a major asset for cultural tourism on the coast, with an international reputation. The appointment of Léo Marin marks the beginning of preparations for the 2027 edition, which will feature works by Belgian and international artists in public spaces along the coastline. The Beaufort Triennial invites art lovers, both Belgian and international, to discover or rediscover the coast through contemporary art.”

Next steps

In the coming months, the curator will conduct site visits in collaboration with coastal municipalities to identify and validate locations for the project. The selection of artists will be announced in September 2026.

During the previous edition in 2024, Beaufort attracted 1.7 million visitors to the coast:

850,000 day trippers;
350,000 tourists staying in commercial accommodation; and
and 500,000 second homeowners.
The economic impact has been estimated at € 36 million by Westtoer.