Call for proposals to the Summer Symposium

Creative practices as a tool to work with heritage. Theater, performance, live art

July 28 – August 4 Oslo, Norway (at Rønningen Folkehøgskole, in person) 

We warmly invite theorists and practitioners, researchers and artists working on the intersection between art and heritage studies to the Summer Symposium. It will be focusing on the Nordic-Baltic regions’ heritage and all kinds of performative practices which will be considered as a tool to interpret, redefine and appropriate heritage.  

This focus seems to us important and relevant for at least two reasons. Firstly, today many researchers consider heritage as a process and even as a performance. Secondly, the interaction between heritage and art opens up new possibilities, ranging from the inclusion of the body and perception to the chance to discover something for one’s own experience.

We invite future participants to propose both theoretical presentations (up to 30 minutes) and practical workshops (up to 90 minutes). Possible topics include, but are not limited to: 

• site-specific theater and performance in historical sites or on historical topics
• embodied knowledge and body memory
• theater and performance in museums
• historical reenactment
• performative commemoration
• interventions in a city space
• connection between urban environment and people, social practices
• heritage as performance

Since our Study Circle was created specially for Nordic Summer University, we are eager to focus on cases and topics dedicated to the Nordic-Baltic regions and will prioritize applications connected to this geography.

How to participate:

Please, fill in the form here by June 1st. Please note that we can’t provide a budget for the materials for the workshops.

Feel free to ask any questions to the coordinators Alina Kalachova kalachyovalina@gmail.com or Svetlana Kondratyeva svetlana.kondratyeva.21@gmail.com 

Fees and format

Summer Symposium will take place at Rønningen Folkehøgskole, in Oslo, Norway. You can find its location on a map here: https://ronningen.fhs.no/kontakt/ .The symposium will take place between 28th July and 4th August. This event will unite together 11 thematic Study Circles. Participants will be able to take part in all the activities combining the main topic of the Study Circle they chose with additional events. Also there will be evening activities for everyone. The full list of the Circles and the typical day in the summer session are here https://www.nsuweb.org/activities/summer-session/ 

Scholarships fee: €150 + NSU membership

Full fee: single room €650-700, double/twin room €500-550, family room €1500-1800, + NSU membership. 

NSU membership: €10 for students, unemployed and independents, €25 for those funded by institutions or companies. The membership fee facilitates the existence of the Nordic Summer University, which is a volunteer-based organization.

The cost includes accommodation, 3 meals and 2 coffee breaks a day, and access to the full NSU program during the summer session. See more on https://www.nsuweb.org/activities/summer-session/. 

How to get a scholarship?

We have a limited number of scholarships which we will give for those who 1) have difficulties with covering the participation fees 2) will bring the most valuable and relevant contribution to the summer session. If you want to try to get this opportunity, please submit a cover letter (1 page maximum) together with your proposal.

Important dates

1 June – Deadline to apply to the NSU summer session 2022/Deadline to apply for a scholarship 

7 June – Scholarship applicants are notified of the outcome of their funding application 

June 7 – 1 July — Registration and payment 

July 28 — Arrival at Rønningen folkehøgskole and start of the summer session (volunteers arrive one day earlier)

August 4 – Departure

Archive:

Call for proposals to the Winter Symposium “Creative practices as a tool to work with heritage. Part I. Objects” PDF version

About this Study Circle

The Circle proposes to explore the cultural heritage of the Nordic-Baltic region using creative practices as the main tool. It combines theoretical and practice-led activities, offering an opportunity to investigate non-textual forms of knowledge and communication towards various questions related to identity, heritage, memory, etc. In our opinion, discussions around these categories are especially relevant now, because heritage often becomes a resource for sustainability in times of crisis and changes. But at the same time, crises often require redefining the value, relevance and functions of heritage. That is why we need to explore new ways of working with heritage, and to develop horizontal inclusive ways of its interpretation.

Art and creative practices, both professional and amateur, are considered in this course as a tool. Firstly, we will try to analyze how the region’s heritage is reflected in the works of (non) local artists. Secondly, creative practice might be seen as a way of participation. Since creativity implies subjectivity and different interpretations, it emphasizes the right to one’s own opinion and the ability to find a diversity of meanings in one object. And thirdly, it allows us to explore irrational, performative, bodily ways of knowledge.

The Winter Symposium will take place at the European Humanities University in Vilnius, Lithuania. During the meeting we will focus on object-oriented art and creative practices related to the Nordic-Baltic regions heritage. This may include exhibitions, public art, installations and other types of artworks, interpretation of the archives or artefacts, curatorial practices, museum expositions, etc. The Summer meeting will be focused on performative, time-based art, such as theatre, performance, live art, embodiment, etc.

Coordinators

Svetlana Kondratyeva
Alina Kalachova