Click on the headings of interest to read more. The submission form is at the bottom of the page. See more information about the call for papers.
They say that necessity is the mother of invention, but art does not always yield to necessity. Art can emerge from absolute scarcity, spontaneous impulse, or an empty space. It can assign profound value to the ordinary, or strip meaning from the grand. Art can be nothing and art can be everything.
KArtsCon 2027 invites creatives, scholars, critics and those simply interested to explore the mechanics of artistic creation and perception.
Can art be created or exist in a vacuum? What drives someone to transform something into something else? Can raw or non-materials be transformed into meaning?
What makes people see value in that transformation? Who decides when an everyday object becomes a masterpiece? Can centuries-old soldier graffiti become art history or historical art? In Yasmina Reza’s play ‘Art’, a man pays for an expensive blank canvas to the chagrin of his art-loving friends. Maurizio Cattelan duct-taped a banana to a wall and sells it for millions, and then it gets eaten. Where does ‘art’ reside? In the object, the context, or the viewer?
What motivates artists to turn absence into presence? An empty wall becomes a canvas for Banksy’s ideologies. Audiences have to step into increasingly narrower openings in another installation. A woman physicalises a tree throughout the 4 seasons for 45 minutes. Is it the space or medium which shapes creation?
Join us at KArtsCon 2027 to share your ideas, debate questions and challenge established definitions. Or, showcase your own interpretation of Something from Nothing.
Artists in all arts disciplines and media; academics, archivists, historians, curators, guides, students, researchers, curriculum planners, policy makers, photographers, and professionals in the fields of media, education, arts, music, humanities, science, and social sciences; Financial professionals working in arts and arts related fields. Individuals whose lives have been deeply affected by the arts.
Abstracts (proposals) should be no longer than 500 words and must be written in English. Headings and subheadings to make keywords or topics stand out would be appreciated. Contents should include a rationale for the work, basic methodology and findings (if research‐based), a brief discussion of the content, and a recommendation/conclusion (if applicable). Please ensure that the following info is included with each submission: contributor’s full name, title, department/university/organisation (if applicable), email and phone contact details.
All selected participants must register for the conference.
Note: Participants who require invitation letters for visa or travel document purposes may request these in writing.
There will be an art exhibit, in all media, at the conference. The art does not need to overtly address the theme; however, exhibiting artists will each deliver a short (5 minutes or less) statement on how art as a vehicle for building bridges influenced the work, at the opening of the exhibit. Artists will be required to submit a written statement (50 words or less), which we will include at the exhibit, along with a brief bio. Artists will be expected to offer their submissions for sale. 20% of all sales will go to Warnborough College, to pay for the exhibition space. We will accept art in any media: painting, sculpture, fibre art, photography, ceramic, jewellery, fabric, assemblage, collage, mixed media, etc. Size specifications will be determined shortly. Please Just let us know what you have in mind. Submit images of finished works, or works-in-progress, in JPEG formats. JPEGS must be 300 dpi and maximum 1024 pixels on the longest side. Include the title and dimensions of the work, and a one-sentence description of the piece. Artists selected to exhibit their artwork will be responsible for its transportation to the venue on July 11 at 8:30am. All art must be exhibit ready. Artists will be responsible for retrieving their entries at the close of the conference. There is a limit of two submissions per artists. Deadline for submission of JPEGs of works in progress and one-sentence description of each work is due 28 May 2027. Images of final submission, bio, and written statement will be due 25 June 2027.
There will be a festival of ‘short shorts’ from all genres at the conference. The maximum length for each work will be 8 minutes (including all credits). Live action, animation, documentary, dance/performance, fine/art conceptual, and music videos are welcome. Laughing and crying are both cathartic — and relate to our theme —so comedies and dramas are equally encouraged. The work must be original and cannot include previews and advertising films, sequences from feature length films, unaired episodes of established TV series, unsold TV series pilots, and/or any previously copyrighted materials. The shorts do not need to overtly address the theme, however participating artists who attend the conference will each deliver a short (3 minutes or less) statement on how illusion influenced the work or vice versa. Participants who do not attend the conference will need to send a 1-2 minute statement on how art, as a vehicle for building bridges, influenced the work, in a separate file. There is a limit of two submissions per artist. Summary of film(s) must be received by 18 April 2027. Rough cuts of works in progress must be received by 28 May 2027, in .mp4 formats (or formats that can be converted to mp4). Final cuts of accepted works must be submitted in the highest resolution quality formats, along with a finalised artist bio, and the video statement (if the artist will not be attending the conference). Those artists who will attend the conference must submit a brief written statement. All final materials must be received by 25 June 2027.
Visual presentations (including demos) will be delivered at the conference. The maximum length of time for each presentation will be 40 minutes, and strict adherence to that timetable will be required. There will be time for a Q&A after each presentation. Participants will not read their presentations. They must talk about their chosen subject matter in a lively fashion—and visuals must accompany the presentations. Abstracts must summarise the subject and nature of the presentation, and indicate how it relates to our conference theme. The following will be accepted: Slide shows (incl. Power Point presentations); demonstrations (using tangible materials and props); object lessons; show and tell presentations; and, other presentation formats. There is a limit of two submissions per presenter. Individuals selected are expected to attend the conference. A proposal abstract of your presentation must be received by 28 May 2027. Final presentations must be received by 25 June 2027.
There will be 50-minute creative writing workshops open to all skill levels, which in some way address the conference theme. Instructors will offer ‘Being a Writer’ workshops, during which time a short writing or screenwriting exercise will be explored. All workshops must be designed to be “doable” for all skill levels (including novices) and the goal will be for each attendee to complete a writing exercise during the session. There is a limit of two submissions per instructor. An abstract (proposal describing the workshop) and a list of equipment needed must be received by 18 April 2027. A resumé indicating your qualification to lead the workshop, a final proposal must be received by 28 May 2027. A Final Syllabus or teaching outline must be received by 25 June 2027.
There will be 50-minute art workshops open to all skill levels, in all media, which in some way address the conference theme. Instructors will offer ‘Be an Artist’ workshops, for which supplies will be readily available. Instructors will be responsible for providing all supplies to attendees. Instructors should ensure that they do not overspend on the cost of supplies. Where there exists surplus funds, instructors may be reimbursed up to US$5 per workshop participant, upon presentation of receipts, but this is not guaranteed. Typically, workshops will be attended by between 10 to 20 attendees, depending on the size of the venue. Instructors must deliver all supplies to the workshop venue on the day of the event. Tools supplied by Instructors will be returned to them at the end of the workshop. However, no highly toxic substances or dangerous tools/materials may be used. All workshops must be designed to be “doable” for all skill levels (including novices) and the goal will be for each attendee to complete a simple project during the session. There is a limit of two submissions per instructor. An abstract (as per the general guidelines) describing the workshop must be received by 18 April 2027. A resume or proof of your qualification to lead the workshop, and a JPEG of a sample project must be received by 28 May 2027. A Final Syllabus along with a complete list of tools and materials that will be provided at the workshop must be received by 25 June 2027.
There will be 50-minute art history classes offered at the conference. Topics may include (but are not limited to) specific periods, artists, styles, and/or movements in art, curricula development, methodologies, curatorship, and business and professional development. All topical programs will need to be related, in some way, to the conference theme, and should appeal to both newcomers to art history and professionals. Any curricula development programs should utilize the theme to demonstrate facets of the system or methodology. These classes must be designed to encourage attendees’ participation, so the approach should be interactive. The instructor is welcome and encouraged to use visuals, and may issue hand-outs of 6 pages or less to each attendee, as long as they can be reproduced on a regular copier machine. (No fancy bells or whistles!) There is a limit of two submissions per instructor. An abstract (proposal describing the class) and a list of equipment needed must be received by 18 April 2027. A resumé indicating your qualification to lead the workshop and a final proposal must be received by 28 May 2027. A Final Syllabus or teaching outline must be received by 25 June 2027.
There will be 40-minute classes offered at the conference on topics in radio, film and/or television. Topics may include (but are not limited to) specific periods, artists, styles, and/or movements in these media forms, history, curricula development, methodologies, and business and professional development. All topical programs will need to be related, in some way, to the conference theme, and should appeal to both newcomers to film, radio and TV, as well as professionals. Any curricula development programs should utilize the theme to demonstrate facets of the system or methodology. These classes must be designed to encourage attendees’ participation, so the approach should be interactive. The instructor is welcome and encouraged to use visuals, and may issue hand-outs of 6 pages or less to each attendee, as long as they can be reproduced on a regular copier machine. (No fancy bells or whistles!) There is a limit of two submissions per instructor. An abstract (proposal describing the class) and a list of equipment needed must be received by 18 April 2027. A resumé indicating your qualification to lead the workshop and a final proposal must be received by 28 May 2027. A Final Syllabus or teaching outline must be received by 25 June 2027.
We will hold an industry panel during the conference on who decides what art is for KArtsCon2027. The panel will reflect diverse dimensions of the Arts and their ability to stimulate thought, conversation and debate. Panelists should comprise industry practitioners, academics and other professionals. There will be one moderator. The overriding goal of this event is participation and information exchange by the attendees. The panel discussion will run for 45-minutes followed by a 10-minute Q&A. If you are keen to participate as a panellist, please provide your name and curriculum vitae by 28 May 2027.
There will be a café event, featuring readings, book signing, and sales. This is open to “indie” (independently published) authors who have self-published (or will publish) a work independently, or through a small independent press, by the time of the event. Your book does not necessarily need to overtly address the theme. All genres are welcome, however emphasis will be placed on fiction. Featured authors will each read an excerpt from their book (for about 10 minutes)—and will sign books during the event. The Warnborough Foundation will earn a 20% commission on all books sold at the event. Contributing authors will be responsible for getting their books to the conference. All authors interested in participating should send a brief bio, book title, and brief book summary by 28 May 2027. Final confirmation of your attendance must be received by 25 June 2027.
