Call for Papers /// Disobedience - ACUADS Conference 2025, Tuesday 2 December (online)
- s-architecture
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Disobedience
ACUADS Conference 2025
Tuesday 2 December (online)
Conference Convenors
Associate Professor Ionat Zurr, University of Western Australia
Associate Professor Katherine Moline, University of New South Wales
Associate Professor Spiros Panigirakis, Monash University
Disobedience
Recent global and local events, directly impacting art and design institutions and cultural practitioners, reflect a growing fear of the power of creative practice. This demonstrates the perception of art and design as a force of disobedience. How University Art and Design Schools respond to such events has the potential to impact society at large.
With the rise of global conflicts and populism, many research communities are under threat and experiencing rapid and destructive power shifts towards conservatism, economic rationalisation, and authoritarianism. The increase of cultural divisions and divisive censorship has led universities in Australia and around the world to become contentious and factionalised battle zones.
Art and design play a role in provoking, revealing and contesting cultural values and meanings. Disobedience, the act of failing or refusing to obey, can take many creative approaches and responses. Disobedience is not a one singular act but rather a continuum of diverse ways of acting (or NOT acting) in response to corrosive politics in uncertain times. The uncertainty is a fertile zone for a creative groundswell, in which the creative disciplines, such as art and design play a major role.
Now, more than ever, we must uphold the principles of academic and creative freedom, open dialogue, and the right to speak out against injustice. As a volatile political landscape increasingly gives rise to structural drivers challenging our institutional commitments to diversity, equity and inclusivity in the creative arts, it is time for art and design to assert our roles in shaping the future.
The 2025 ACUADS Conference: Disobedience invites contributions that showcase projects, pedagogies, and initiatives that explore how we navigate current authoritarian trajectories in the political exosphere. We call for diverse voices and opinions which celebrate practice-based academic rigour and bravery through respectful engagement. ACUADS celebrates the power of art and design education, research, and practice to explore the somewhat alluring concept of Disobedience.
Suggested subthemes but not limited to:
Diversity Equality Inclusivity and Queer Activism
Generative AI and Art and Design
Climate Activism
Institutional Decolonisation
Cultural Censorship
Social fracturing and the role of University Galleries
ACUADS is accepting paper and presentation proposals which align with this conference theme.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Abstract submissions are due on Monday 8 September 2025.
Expressions of interest for all types of contributions aligned with the conference theme are as follows:
Submission of an abstract of no more than 200 words on the ACUADS 2025 Abstract Template
Short papers of up to 2,000 words that are statements of pedagogy, reports on pilot projects, or statements on research methods/methodologies
Roundtable/panel proposals (there will be limited availability for these in the program)
PAPERS
Abstracts will be peer-reviewed, and those accepted and presented at the ACUADS 2025 Conference will have the opportunity to publish their papers via the conference proceedings on the ACUADS website.
All the papers published will be subject to a process of double-blind peer review at both the submission of a conference abstract (acceptance into the conference); and, after the conference, when papers will be formally submitted for final review prior to publication. All papers will be eligible for publication, via the ACUADS website.
To request a 2025 Abstract Template and for any questions, please contact Lucy Weekes, ACUADS Executive Officer on admin@acuads.com.au.
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