2019 a2ru National Conference knowledges: artistic practice as method November 7 – 9, 2019
Hosted by
Submission Deadline:
Friday, April 5, 2019
The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) invites proposals for the 2019 a2ru national conference, knowledges: artistic practice as method to take place at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, Kansas, November 7–9, 2019. The 2019 theme is an invitation to explore modes of knowing, especially as arrived through the discovery of artistic practice. This theme is anchored in, but not limited to, the following questions:
How do artistic practices map onto other methods of knowledge production?
If contemporary artists are trained from the outset to be critical of their medium(s), how might this critical reflection inform more discrete disciplines, which often treat academic form as neutral vessels for the delivery of content?
What can researchers across the arts, sciences, and humanities learn from one another's practices and approaches?
The University of Kansas, host of this year's a2ru conference, aims to infuse the arts into its research culture by advancing interdisciplinary projects across the sciences and humanities. This is accomplished through existing structures, such as the Integrated Arts Research Initiative (IARI) funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation at the Spencer Museum of Art, The Commons, and the Research Excellence Initiative through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The exhibition and dialogue among artists and scholars developed through the IARI colloquium (November 6, 2019) will launch the 2019 a2ru national conference.
a2ru invites proposals for presentations 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. In an effort to unpack different ways of knowing, proposed sessions will follow a structure that mimics the process of knowledge generation. Proposal formats will include 1) inquiries, 2) lightning talks, and 3) presentations. a2ru encourages proposals that represent diverse backgrounds, pursuits, affiliations, locations, ages, and institutions. This active format invites participants into the collective co-creation of knowledge.
FORMATS FOR PARTICIPATION
Inquiries: Challenge previously held beliefs OR explore unfamiliar ideas.
Group inquiry provides opportunity for immersive work sessions that address a topic or question of particular interest to participants. Proposals should include:
intentionally designed format to foster discussion or activity across areas of expertise.
a focus subject or practice in relation to the conference theme.
intended working methods and outcomes of the group process.
mechanism by which to continue the work post-conference.
Lightning Talks: Connect ideas.
Proposals in this section should consider work that is in development. Through sharing the early stages of research, artists, designers, scholars, and students have an opportunity to exchange information and ideas to better inform the work in its publishing/presentation stage. Proposals may include:
basic keywords to describe the multiple facets of the research.
ideas for who might collaborate in the next stages (eg: computer engineers, biochemists, composers, choreographers, designers, etc.).
challenges faced in doing the work.
next steps/questions to work toward.
short (less than 10 minute) performance or presentation of the work in its current state.
Presentations and Performances: Share work that is more fully developed.
Presenters and performers can reflect on completed work or suggest next steps for projects that have already launched. Proposals should include:
description of the content to be presented.
explanation of how the format of presentation will be conducive to the next steps.
Visit the conference event page to read the full call for proposals, additional information, and link to submit proposals. All submissions are due by Friday, April 5, 2019.
