Call for participation for the Artivism: Embracing Cultural Activism for a Safe and Just World conference are open.

The Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), is delighted to announce a pioneering partnership with the Riky Rick Foundation for the Promotion of Artivism, Community Arts Network (CAN) and the Global Commons Alliance (GCA) for the highly anticipated inaugural Global Artivism Conference 2024, scheduled to take place in Tshwane (Pretoria) from 5 to 8 September 2024. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to leveraging the arts for social and environmental change, fostering a platform for dialogue, innovation, advocacy and action.

The conference, themed Artivism: Embracing Cultural Activism for a Safe and Just World, aims to explore the dynamic intersection of the arts and activism, highlighting the pivotal role of creative expression in advocating for societal and environmental issues. This event promises to bring together a diverse array of voices from the arts, education and activism to engage in meaningful discussions, workshops and exhibitions, showcasing the transformative power of artivism.

The inaugural Artivism Conference will not only spotlight the critical role of the arts in addressing pressing global challenges but also reinforce the importance of cross-sector partnerships in driving sustainable change. In the vibrant tapestry of Africa’s cultural landscape, where diversity and creativity intersect, Artivism emerges as a powerful force for societal transformation.

Participants can look forward to a rich programme featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, interactive workshops, performances and art exhibitions, all designed to inspire and empower attendees to harness the arts as a tool for social and environmental advocacy. This unique event brings together two essential aspects: an academic conference and a practitioner convening, that will serve as a platform for networking, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas among artists, scholars, activists, and students from around the globe.

CONTEXT

The emerging set of concepts and activities woven together through Artivism suggest an expansive and intersectional approach. The conference will seek to intentionally connect people and ideas across the many social and structural fractures present, even in the adjacent networks around the theory and practice of Artivism. The power and relevance of Artivism is unlikely to find a stronger argument than its own multifaceted demonstration.

Below, this document sets out conference subthemes and invited participation submission guidelines for papers, workshops, discussion groups, and poster presentations. Artistic performances and creative works will also be invited in the coming weeks. Participants may be invited to connect with each other around similar, complementary, or divergent perspectives and practices, in the spirit of the overall theme.

KEY SUB-THEMES

This gathering will explore the following themes and sub-themes as part of both the academic conference as well as the practitioner convening:

1.            ACTIVIST MODES OF APPLIED ARTISTIC PRACTICE

Exploring how artistic practice and creative work are relevant in the realm of activism and social transformation. Submissions could include:

•              Artistic Research and Activism

•              Art as Resistance

•              Visualising Inequality and Marginalisation

2.            ARTIVISM AND SPECIFIC/ INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES

Rarely does Artivism show up in the abstract, but rather in connection with specific contexts, efforts, and people. Submissions could include a focus on:

•              Mental Health

•              Gender-based violence

•              Environment

3.            EMERGENT SPACES OF ARTIVISM

Artivism often contains seeds of the future. Where is Artivism going, how is it evolving, and what does that mean for the world? Submissions could include:

•              Artivism and Community Engagement

•              Art, Technology, and Digital Activism

•              Adjacent networks + practices for exploration

•              Artivism and institutions; academic, cultural, civic.

4.            THEORIES AND HISTORY OF ARTIVISM

Providing context around Artivism as a frame and practice whose moment has arrived. Submissions could include:

•              Artistic activism, Activist art, Artivism

•              Economics of Artivism

•              Models of Artivism + cultural intervention

•              Creative activism co-opted

5.            ADVANCING ARTIVISM

Understanding, identifying, and honouring the work of advancing Artivism. Submissions could include:

•              Highlighting Excellence in Arts and Culture for Social Change

•              Identification of Challenges for harnessing Social Change (Barriers to Artivism)

•              Landscape + vision: designing Artivism into the future

WE INVITE SUBMISSIONS FOR PAPERS

Papers of 20 minutes each (with a subsequent 10 minutes for questions) on aspects of ‘artivism’ on the above suggested sub- themes. Papers on related topics will also be considered if they are relevant to the overall field of research (e.g. on broader activism themes using the arts, artistic research using the arts). Selected papers delivered at the conference will be published afterwards and must be submitted for this purpose in their final form no later than four weeks after the conference.

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 April 2024

Notification of Acceptance: 31 May 2024

Full Paper Submission Deadline: 31 July 2024

Paper Length: 5000 – 6000 Words (in the case of published papers)

Formatting Guidelines: APA 7th Edition (1,5 spacing, Arial, 12 point)

Submit your abstract or paper and a short 250 word bio to:
Irene Botes (botesjc@tut.ac.za)
Zuziwe Mpanza (MpanzaZ@tut.ac.za)
Subject: Artivism Conference Submission

WORKSHOPS

Workshops of 30 – 60 minutes each on aspects of ‘artivism’ on the above suggested themes or sub-themes. Workshops on related topics will also be considered if they are relevant to the overall field of research (e.g. on broader activism themes using the arts, artistic research using the arts). Selected workshops presented at the conference outcome can be published afterwards and must be submitted for this purpose in their final form no later than four weeks after the conference.

•              Workshop theme/title

•              Aim

•              Target audience

•              Proposed outcome

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 April 2024

Notification of Acceptance: 31 May 2024

Full Description Deadline: 31 July 2024

Submit your workshop information and a short 250 word bio to:
Irene Botes (botesjc@tut.ac.za)
Zuziwe Mpanza (MpanzaZ@tut.ac.za)
Subject: Artivism Conference Submission

DISCUSSION GROUPS

Discussion groups of 30 – 60 minutes each on aspects of ‘artivism’ on the above suggested themes or sub-themes. Discussion groups on related topics will also be considered if they are relevant to the overall field of research (e.g. on broader activism themes using the arts, artistic research using the arts).

•              Discussion group theme/title

•              Aim

•              Target audience

•              Proposed outcome

Discussion Group Submission Deadline: 30 April 2024

Notification of Acceptance: 31 May 2024

Submit your discussion group information and a short 500 word bio to:
Irene Botes (botesjc@tut.ac.za)
Zuziwe Mpanza (MpanzaZ@tut.ac.za)
Subject: Artivism Conference Submission, Tshwane University of Technology

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Poster presentations should be done using an A1 format on any of the themes or subthemes listed in this call.

A short description of submissions with a 250 word bio to be made to:
Irene Botes (botesjc@tut.ac.za)
Zuziwe Mpanza (MpanzaZ@tut.ac.za)
Subject: Artivism Conference Submission, Tshwane University of Technology

REGISTRATION

Early registration for the conference or intention to participate is highly encouraged. Details regarding registration fees, early bird discounts, and registration deadlines can be found on the conference website: www.tutfadshowcase.ac.za. Please note that presenting authors (in the case of research aspect) are required to register and attend the conference.

For further information, detailed guidelines, and updates, please visit the official conference website: www.tutfadshowcase.ac.za

Feel free to contact the conference organising committee (botesjc@tut.ac.za and cc mpanzaz@tut.ac.za) if you have any inquiries or require assistance.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Artivism Conference 2024 and creating a stimulating environment for intellectual growth, knowledge dissemination, and collaborative research.

Irene Botes
botesjc@tut.ac.za
TUT, Arts Campus
http://www.tutfadshowcase.ac.za