INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
PUBLIC ART AS A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED PLACES

UCP – CITAR – R3iAP

17th and 18th November 2022
Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Porto

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Dominik Ledjman
More to be announced

Call for Papers: 29th July 2022

More information here: https://artes.porto.ucp.pt/publicart_conference?


During the last few years, public space went through a deep crisis. Anti-pandemic preventive measures have dictated severe restrictions to the use of public space. Access to everyday activities, as well as simple leisure moments, or even circulation, have been harshly restricted, both indoors and outdoors, including the access to schools, universities, museums or libraries during the confinement periods.

Nevertheless, can we say that cultural activity had ceased? Has, or has not, the restricted access to outdoors public space fostered a massive exploration of virtual public space? In fact, creating and sharing artistic work, attending and participating in cultural activities and online programs seems to have had a wide and general boom, expanding our notions of public space and public art.

Addressing these questions, the International Conference Public Art as a Bridge over Troubled Places intends to capture and debate the memory of the resilience of public art during pandemic times, as well as to reflect about the impact of the means and methods that were used during those periods.

What were the new possibilities explored by public art during the pandemic crisis? What were the most relevant and innovative approaches and achievements? Did those follow or reflect any common patterns? And, if so, what has characterized them?

In this perspective, the International Conference Public Art as a Bridge over Troubled Places intends also to stimulate new creative insights concerning the renewed possibilities opened by the recent extensions of the concepts and practices concerning public space and public art. How did the pandemic experience change our relationship with public space, and public art, and what dimensions of the latter are currently being explored?

Facing the most severe restrictions dictated by the militarization of the public and the mediatic space, how can public art become a safe bridge over troubled places?

Can public art express the spirit of resistance and aid? Can it be a space of care? A space for change?

Please send us your presentation proposals, considering one of these two areas, as follows:

1st Area – PUBLIC ART between MEMORY and IMAGINATION
Possible topics: virtual public art; virtual public sphere; augmented reality; new media art; soundscape immersive experience...
2nd Area – PUBLIC ART before PLACE and POWER
Possible topics: public installations; activism and empowerment; feminism and gender; religious beliefs; esoterism…

Communication and Media Studies scholars are welcome.

KEY DATES

– Deadline for the submission of abstracts: 20th May 2022
– Notification of acceptance: 13th June 2022
– Deadline for the submission of short papers:1st September 2022
– Notification of acceptance: 30th September 2022
– Conference (presential/virtual): 17-18 November 2022
– Full version of texts: 15th December 2022


Email address for sending abstracts and short papers: publicart@porto.ucp.pt

Subject: Colóquio Arte Pública

ABSTRACT
Max. 300 words / 4 key-words
Name and affiliation
Format: Word
SHORT BIO
Up to 300 words


Abstracts will be selected through peer review process;
Abstracts and Short Papers will be accepted in Portuguese, Spanish and English;
Please consider paper proposals for 20 minutes presentations.


PUBLICATION

Conference Proceedings will be published