Call for Proposals

Proposal Guidelines | Proposal Submission Form | Artistic Proposal Guidelines

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Please refer to the Proposal Guidelines for general information, the thematic structure of the conference, and our overall vision for a week of engaging with ideas of Degrowth. In this section, we will only refer to criteria for Artistic Submissions.

Artistic Proposal Guidelines

We are currently accepting applications for participation in the International Conference on Degrowth in the Americas, which will take place in Montreal from May 13th-19th, 2012.

Artistic Programming for Degrowth

The artistic programming for Degrowth is open in nature. It diverges from the general "Proposal Guidelines" for the Degrowth conference as we recognize the diverse nature of artistic proposals and their varied manifestations. We are excited to include Fine Art in this interdisciplinary weeklong discussion on Degrowth. We encourage you to apply with challenging projects that address any of our general themes (grounding, knowing, relating, consenting, sharing and experiencing) and themes such as social justice, environment, economy, community, food equity, global systems, etc…

We hope that the art and artistic presentations selected substantiate the academic component of the conference, and bring forward new reflections and models for understanding ideas of Degrowth.

Install/Exhibition/Presentation Guidelines

We will be exhibiting, installing, and facilitating the selected artwork and artistic presentations, workshops and happenings on the four conference campuses to the best of our abilities. Your work will not be installed in conventional gallery spaces, but instead may be exhibited in passageways, corridors, on the symposium stage, and in points of engagement with our conference attendees, speakers, and the public. We will include an artist statement and description of your work with its presentation, if you so wish, and we will meet with you individually so to best meet your needs and to assist you with your install. If your work is performance-based, or sound/time-based, we will try to accommodate your work by including a public performance or presentation of your project in our program.

A panel of artists who have professional training and experience curating and assessing Fine Art will review your work.

Applying

Who can apply with an artistic proposal?

Any professional artist or cultural worker who is exploring ideas and issues pertaining to Degrowth through an artistic practice or art critical/theoretical practice. (Practicing artists, undergraduate/graduate, art students, freelance artists (with or without institutional training), curators, art historians etc…)

Proposal Submission Guidelines

• Proposals should be clear, concise and written in English, French or Spanish.
  
• Only submissions received on or prior to the posted deadline will be considered.
  
• You may submit more than one artistic proposal, in one application.
  
• The submission of a proposal carries with it the submitter's commitment that it will be presented, or exhibited with one of the artists present.
  
• To withdraw a proposal, the contact author or speaker must send an email request along with the proposal reference name at least three weeks prior to the conference.

Your proposal should include:

• Contact info
  Full name, website (if applicable), email address, phone number, address, postal code, organization or collective (if applicable)
  
• Project proposal
  250 words max (title of work, explanation of project)
  
• Artist statement
  150 words max
  
• Documentation
  3 – 10 images for individual applicants, 15 images for applications by 2 or more (jpg format, approximately 8in x 10in at 72 ppi). For video and audio works please include samples or complete pieces (mp3 files).
  
• Image list
  With dimensions of the work (metric/imperial)
  
• Short biography
  100 words max (may be used in print)
• Technical needs: (please indicate clearly)
  
  • What sort of outlets/technical assistance you will require?
    
  • Please estimate cost for transport and equipment rental fees
    
  • There will be a budget allocated for the transport of your work, and a labelling system for its presentation.
    
  • We encourage you to be as autonomous about your equipment and technical needs, and to apply with projects that you have experience installing. However, we will have technical support staff to assist with your install if requested and will
    reimburse technical equipment rentals after the conference when you produce original receipts

Please create a single PDF file, and send the document in an attachment to artdegrowth@gmail.com with the subject heading "Artistic Proposal" and your full name. If you would prefer to submit a hardcopy, please address submissions to:

Degrowth Conference – Artistic Submission from [Your Name]
David O'Brien Centre, JMSB
1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd West, MB 6.327
Montreal QC Canada, H3G 1M8

The conference will be attended by a variety of stakeholders with different professional and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, communicating in accessible language about your project (whether in English, French, or Spanish) is encouraged, whenever possible.

Presentation Formats

We are pleased to invite artistic submissions for the following types of proposals. Please note that all speakers and presenters will be required to register for the Conference.

You are not limited to apply solely for "Arts and cultural exhibits/performances". We encourage artistic proposals for any/all of the listed categories.

• Arts and cultural exhibits/performances
  We are very interested in receiving artistic proposals relating to the conference themes. These can include any type of artistic proposal, such as installations, performances, exhibits, etc.
• Workshops (90 minutes)
  A workshop would comprise of a 90-minute session that treats one or more of the conference themes. The session organizer will be responsible for the content of the session, confirming all speakers and identifying a session chair.
• Roundtables (90 minutes)
  These sessions would include 4 to 6 people based on a common theme. Participants will have 5 to 7 minutes to present their ideas on the theme. These short presentations will be followed by 60 minutes of discussion. This session is designed for individuals who would like to engage in discussion surrounding the themes and their ideas.
• Special sessions (90 minutes)
  We are open to any form of organization of special sessions as long as it is related to the themes of the Degrowth conference. It could be a complementary mix of artistic and academic presentation or a non-verbal activity. For instance, to study and overcome the limitations of making academic knowledge understandable and usable, one could envision a combination of a world café discussion and an academic presentation, or the same presentation in an academic format and in a broad audience format, followed by a critical evaluation of the differences. The Programme/Scientific Committee will evaluate the special sessions on a case-by-case basis, with external advisers when necessary.
  Paper presentations (20 minute presentation + 10 minute discussion)
Interested participants are invited to propose presentations of 20 minutes (individual or group) relating to one or more of the conference themes. A discussion period will take place after each presentation. The Programme/Scientific Committee will group individual presentations in sessions. Time will be allocated at the end of the session to permit discussion between the presenters and participants.
• Symposia (½ or a full day)
  We invite anyone interested in organizing a symposium within the framework of Degrowth and the conference themes to contact the conference secretariat directly. Proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Posters
  Poster presentations provide an opportunity to introduce innovative or non-innovative approaches related to the conference themes. Poster sessions are available to all delegates. Posters can cover research reports, testimonies, accounts, political standpoints or simple questioning of the status quo.

Evaluation of Proposals

Reviewers of proposals will be peers and non-peers with expertise and experience in the themes of the conference. A jury composed of artists and historians will evaluate artistic proposals in collaboration with the Programme/Scientific Committee. The Programme/Scientific Committee will use appropriate review criteria suitable to the different forms and content of the presentations.

Artistic proposals will be expected to meet the following criteria:

• Relevance to the conference themes and objectives.
  
• Potential for engaging participants in substantive discussions.
  
• An achievable outline with regard to time allotment.
  
• Adhere to the artistic submission guidelines.

Deadlines

Artistic proposals and posters: February 28th, 2012

Acceptance of proposals will be sent within 60 days of the deadlines. The Programme/Scientific Committee reserves the right to revise program allocations if criteria and deadlines are not met.

Last updated: 01/02/12