ART AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE

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The Art of Social Justice

Welcome to the Art and Social Justice Conference Homepage, Durban, South Africa, 21st March - 24th March 2010. The conference will be held in conjunction with the ‘Dialogue among Civilisations’ exhibition opening on the evening of the 21st March 2010 at the Durban Art Gallery.

Art for Humanity will be holding its 1st international conference in March 2010. The conference will be hosted by the Durban University of Technology in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

The 2010 Art and Social Justice Conference will address a range of critically important issues and themes relating to the arts in promoting human rights and social justice in society. Plenary speakers will include leading thinkers and practitioners in the arts, as well as health, justice, education etc. Paper, workshop and colloquium presenters will be drawn from researchers and practitioners in all fields of artistic engagement. The objective of the conference is to serve as a platform for art practitioners and organizations to share experiences drawn from a variety of international contexts to discuss mutual concerns and find solutions to commonly experienced challenges.

The conference aims to arrive at a concrete set of resolutions which can be developed into a policy document about the role of the arts in effecting social change, cultural development and equity.

We invite practitioners and academic researchers with an interest in art and social justice, who critically examine relevant works in the fields of literature, visual arts, music and performing arts, to submit a presentation proposal for one of the following parallel session options: a 20-minute paper; a 60-minute workshop; a jointly presented 90-minute colloquium. We encourage innovative presentation formats, such as roundtables, staged dialogues, screenings and performances. Parallel sessions are loosely grouped into streams reflecting different perspectives or disciplines. Streams will include Open Space Technology sessions conducted by the renowned writer William Cleveland who is the founder and Director of the Center for the Study of Art and Community, and an informal forum for focused discussion of issues and themes arising during the conference.

In line with the hosting institution’s commitment to applied research, the conference particularly calls for papers that explore theoretical avenues to the credible evaluation of public art and art projects directed at advocacy. This dual approach, which will be evident throughout the conference, is intended to bridge a crucial gap which frequently divides scholars and practitioners in the arts.

This conference and the ‘Dialogue among Civilisations’ exhibition has been granted UNESCO Patronage these two events, UNESCO Director General Mr. Koichiro Matsuura wrote:- "This major event...involving the collaboration between artists and poets...is consistent with UNESCO’s principle objective as regards the promotion of intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity. It will no doubt contribute to emphasizing the unique role of the arts as a means of dialogue, communication and understanding...giving its aim of promoting ethical values through artistic expression and creativity..." [SOURCE].

The ‘Dialogue among Civilisations’ project is, a unique print portfolio that juxtaposes responses from visual artists and poets on issues of social justice. The project involves collaboration between artists and poets from Africa, Europe, Americas, Asia and Australasia on the theme of identity, land, object and belief. The art and poetry resulting from the project will be employed in a public advocacy campaign against racism and xenophobia, highlighting especially the plight of refugees. The exhibition arising from this project will open on the 21st March 2010 at the Durban Art Gallery

Main theme ‘Arts and Social Justice’

Who should attend?

  • Art for Humanity members and affiliates
  • Independent researchers and academics in a range of disciplines
  • Members of NGOs in the broad fields of art and social justice
  • Activists and members of civil society groups
  • Members of arts funding and arts representative bodies
  • Representatives of Ministries of Culture
  • Local government representatives
  • Policy makers in the fields of arts and social justice
  • Arts educators and administrators
  • Artists
  • Members of private foundations
  • Corporate sponsors
  • Persons with an interest in arts support
  • Members of advertising agencies involved in using art in public educational campaigns
  • Media agencies and members of the press
  • Gallery and museum curators

Important Dates

•  Submission of abstracts: 15 Nov 2009
•  Notification on acceptance of abstract: 15 Dec 2009
•  Final date for early-bird registration: 29 Jan 2010
•  Final date for late registration and withdrawal: 21 Feb 2010
•  Final date for full paper submission (if to be published in the CD-ROM): 02 Feb 2010
•  Final Date for full paper submission to be published in Conference Publication: 31 May 2010

Conference Fees

•  Registration - all professionals R 3,750.00
•  Registration - students R 3,000.00

Please note these fees do not include flights or accommodation.

REGISTER NOW!

Art for Humanity believes that in its rich diversity, culture – and art being an essential expression of culture – has intrinsic value for development, social cohesion and social justice. Art being a primary form of cultural expression, created with the intention to be viewed by humanity at large, also serves as an indicator of the social and cultural development of culture and society.

Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only in respect of economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. Cultural diversity is thus an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable cultural transformation essential to sustainable development.