And every two years, we do it all again…reflecting on the discursivity and archives of biennials

The proliferation and diversity of contemporary art biennials have established biennial studies as a field that investigates the structures, histories, and impacts of these exhibitions. Increasingly, biennials integrate discursive programs —including mediation, public talks, and community projects—to foster social engagement and deeper audience interaction with art. This article examines the Mercosul Biennial (6th to 9th editions) and Liverpool Biennial (2016 and 2018) as case studies to explore how discursive strategies are applied in varied cultural contexts, addressing both the successes and challenges of sustaining these educational initiatives. Through these cases, the study highlights the ongoing need for sustainable documentation practices to preserve the critical insights and community connections developed by biennial discursive programmes.