Call for Proposals
“Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected. It is a function of creative men to perceive the relations between thoughts, or things, or forms of expression that may seem utterly different, and to be able to combine them into some new form”.
~William Plomer
Creative connections are an important part of the performing arts, with the inspiration and intention of the process/product often seeking to push the boundaries of artistic expression for the creator, performer, and witness. The past few years have seen the discipline in a state of reconfiguration, and for artists, educators, performers, and researchers, adaptation was necessary. But what remained at the heart of the performing arts was the desire to continue to formulate these connections, exploring the physical, musical, emotional, and visceral. Many of the “traditional” modes of creation and practice were redefined, altering the modes of conception and perception. And yet, the basic creative parameters never changed – and there was a continuation to dance/sing/play/compose/act/make art. Moving forward, what has been discovered is that the goal of the arts has not changed, but more possibilities have been revealed, leaving it in a new state of creative hybridisation.
Subject/Object/Practice/Place: Connecting Creatively Through the Performing Arts seeks to explore these connections, both past to present. Over the three days of the conference, we want participants to encounter, recount, and explore, both physically and theoretically, sources of motivation and collaboration. As such, it is our intention to provide opportunities for both theoretical presentations and practical workshops. As can be seen by the quite broad title, exploring different modes of transmission is of interest, and outside of the box thinking is encouraged! It is hoped that by the end of the conference, new links for creative, performative, and educational opportunities in and through the performing arts will have been presented and (re)discovered.
We invite proposals for papers, presentations, and workshops in any format that address any aspect of the conference theme broadly conceived. Possible formats of presentation include:
Topics for presentation might include, but are not limited to:
Deadline for all proposals and film submissions : 11 December 2023
Proposals should contain the following information in a single electronic document (PDF files encouraged):
First name and Surname
Institutional affiliation (if any)
Contact email address
Title of presentation
Brief description of presentation or workshop
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Brief biography (125 words maximum)
For a film submission, please also include a link via Google Doc, WeTransfer, Vimeo, or YouTube.
Questions can be directed by email to Co-Convenors Dr Deborah Williams or Mrs Margherita Borg.
Abstracts and Proposals can be submitted to: spaconference@um.edu.mt
