Proposals now being accepted for a2ru national conference, Oct. 15-17 in Madison, WI
The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) national conference theme for 2020 is “Land and Equity: The Art and Politics of Place.” The annual conference will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison during October 15-17.
The theme of “Land and Equity” considers how the work of artistic, scientific, and humanist researchers and educators is defined by the land and asks who has access to that land and its resources? The conference will examine how art, research, and teaching impacts the places and spaces in which we live and work, and discuss ways that we can use that work to advance more equitable access.
Presentation proposals from a2ru partners, including the University of Georgia, will receive priority consideration. a2ru invites proposals for presentations, workshops, and performances from researchers, artists, field leaders, and other practitioners about arts-integrative research, practice, and curricula that explore the potential of artistic and other practice-led methods for inquiry across disciplines.
Proposal track one: Land and equity: the art and politics of place
Presentations and workshops should contribute to the conference by addressing one of the following themes or related issues: sustainability, environmental art, indigenous art, site-specific art, land activism, art-based community development, maps/boundaries/ways of defining place, public art, and artistic expressions of refugee/migrant experiences.
Proposal track two: The arts and design in research universities
Presentations and workshops should contribute to the conference by addressing one of the following themes: modes of collaboration, interdisciplinary stewardship, equity, campus amplification and departmental engagement, promotion and tenure; cultures of evidence, impacts case-making, and dealing with data.
a2ru advances the full range of arts and design-integrative research, curricula, programs, and creative practice from across the disciplines in order to acknowledge, articulate, and expand the vital role of higher education in our global society. a2ru’s work, in partnership with more than 35 research institutions, envisions a world in which universities—students, faculty, and leaders—explore, embed, and integrate the arts in everyday practice and research. The a2ru National Conference is an opportunity for practitioners and researchers from across the higher education spectrum to share innovations and perspectives in the arts.