TransCultural Exchange is currently Seeking Proposals for its 2016 International Conference on Opportunities in the Arts: Expanding Worlds. Proposals are due January 10, 2015 at 5pm EST.

TransCultural Exchange’s international conferences bring artists together with critics, gallery owners, curators, artist-in-residency directors and those working in other fields of interest to artists. Their aim is to advance artistic innovation by helping artists gain the time, funds, inspiration and other means to pursue their goals. (Please see the previous Conferences in the left hand navigation for an idea of the scope and aim of these Conferences.)

Dates of Conference: February 25th – 27th, 2016
Location: Boston University, with panels and presentations also at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and other locations.

Conference Overview
Traditionally, artists have relied on galleries and dealers to promote their art. They have worked largely within the confines of their discipline and studio walls. However, these constructs are rapidly changing. Today’s global reality has put new pressures on artists to expand their practice abroad, and to seek out new audiences, markets and inspirations. Consequently, more and more artists are managing their own careers, working in new formats and collaborating with people in different disciplines, both here and abroad.

To reflect these changes, TransCultural Exchange invites submissions for presentations at its three-day conference Expanding Worlds. The program will offer provocative keynotes, extensive networking with curators, critics and international residency directors, workshops, demonstrations, tours, exhibits, panels, portfolio reviews and more.

Scope of Topics
Picking up where the last conference Engaging Minds left off, the Conference Committee is soliciting presentations that address exciting possibilities for artists to embrace different cultures, mindsets and technologies. For instance, papers might present various international residency programs, offer practical advice (such as resources for funding or managing a studio practice), address social or political interventions or promote collaboration with other disciplines, such as medicine, architecture, conservation and engineering. Presentations on current trends in the arts and new research in other fields are also encouraged. In the past, papers on topics outside the arts have been among the most popular because they inspire artists to think in new ways.

Proposal Submission Guidelines
Proposals need not conform to traditional panel formats. Papers can be submitted as individual presentations for round table discussions or as panels. They can also be submitted as Pecha Kucha sessions (short 3 minute presentations), small workshops or demonstrations on more narrowly focused topics, such as ones that encourage participants to share new techniques, teach relevant online tools, archival methods, grant-writing skills, application tips, etc. The guidelines for each format are listed below.

Papers – Individual and Panel Sessions
The main thrust of the Conference is the 2-hour panel sessions with 4-5 presenters. The 2-hour panel sessions must also include a minimum of 30 minutes for audience questions and discussion.

Round Table Discussions
Papers for Round Table Discussions should be limited to 7 minutes, adhere to a 30-minute time-block and serve approximately 10-15 participants.

Workshops and Demonstrations
Small conference rooms at Boston University will be available for workshops and demonstrations. Additionally artists, teachers and others in the Boston/Cambridge area are welcome to submit proposals for demonstrations at their or other facilities, which will then become part of the Conference program. All Workshop or Demonstration proposals must indicate if a space is needed or already secured, the interactive or instructional nature of the demonstration, the target audience and the desired presentation time. These sessions can be 30 minutes, or 1 or 2 hours long.

Pecha Kuchas
These 3-minute talks are best suited to organizations that serve artists– such as artist-in-residences. These presentations can take the form of a short paper, Power Point, video, etc. and are primarily meant to be used to quickly promote/pitch a program to the Conference’s large number of artist attendees.

For more information please visit http://www.transculturalexchange.org/2016-conference/overview.htm