Conference of Irish Geographers, University College Cork 

Thursday 4 May - Saturday 6 May 2017

Panel Session CFP:

‘Art and Geography: Disruptive Practices and Alternative Engagements’

Organisers: Karen Till, Maynooth Geography, Nessa Cronin, Centre for Irish Studies, NUI Galway, Tim Collins, Centre for Landscape Studies, NUIG, and Gerry Kearns, Maynooth Geography

15 March 2017: Preliminary submission of interest to panel organisers

20 March 2017: Final deadline for completed conference abstract/proposal

Drawing upon the main themes of the CIG 2017, this CFP calls for creative explorations of the possibilities and forms of spatial disruptions, whether that be through existing practices, new arrangements, or alternative modes of engagement and encounter.  Through their practice, research and work, artists and geographers have created and/or followed ‘disruptive pathways’ to navigate and challenge taken-for-granted orderings, alignments, institutions and networks. These creative engagements may result in new knowledges, shared environments and communities, and spatial imaginings of possible pasts, presents and futures.

Papers, posters and creative presentations are invited to explore these knowledge-forming practices, while also possibly addressing some of the issues as listed below:

·      What are the geographies of disruptive practices? How might these be ‘mapped’?

·      Where and why might alternative engagements blur (disciplinary) boundaries?

·      What are the outcomes and possibilities of fuzzy edges?

·      Through what media/iums might (b)orders be transgressed, become porous or mobile?

·      How can a critique of the creative arts as social or cultural ‘capital’ create other vocabularies or disruptive strategies to counter the ‘arts-as-economic-driver’ narrative of the neoliberal state?

·      Where, when and through what forms do the intersections of space-times move, collapse, pause, re-engage?

·      What can we learn from the ebbs and flows of environments and ecologies to create more democratic geographical worlds?

·      What are the current geographies and boundaries of art institutions and arts policy? What alternative engagements might reframe the ‘value’ of the arts?

These questions are not prescriptive and we are interested in proposals that are practice-based, connect scholarly and activist work, and/or include explorations/works in progress. We welcome contributions from postgraduate students and early career researchers, as well as non-academic guests. To that end, the CIG Cork Conference organisers have generously provided three artists/practitioner bursaries to cover basic conference expenses for non-institutionally based participants. The expected format is 15 minutes with 5 minutes for Q&A but we are open to alternative proposals. 

Submissions: Please email either Karen Till ([log in to unmask]) or Nessa Cronin ([log in to unmask]) with a 250 word abstract by 15 March. Please indicate if you are applying for an artist bursary.

The organisers will let you know if your proposed paper is accepted. You will then need to register through the CIG paper abstract form and select ‘Art and Geography’ as the themed session. The form can be found here: http://www.conferenceofirishgeographers.ie/abstract-submission-form-c1r5x

Please note: You cannot submit an abstract to the website until you have registered for the conference which we urge you to do as soon as possible.