2020 symposium call for papers
May 15–17, 2020
Beijiao New Town, Shunde
Foshan
China
For the third iteration of Museum 2050’s annual symposium Cultural Alliances: The Imperatives and Challenges of Collaboration, the platform looks to explore the concept of collaboration, both in its proliferation in recent partnerships amongst museums, particularly in China, and as a centerpiece of creative production. We wish to ask the fundamental question: why collaborate? What is the purpose of these cultural alliances? Whether they are between distinct institutions, artists, professionals, spaces or disciplines, what is gained when we collaborate? What is lost? How can we best foster collaboration? This year, Museum 2050 seeks to broaden the discussion beyond the realm of the Chinese context in order to investigate why museums make the decision to go beyond their walls to forge partnerships, both with other actors in the arts and those in other fields.
About Museum 2050
China-based platform Museum 2050 was initiated in 2017 to consider the cultural and social impacts the exponential growth museum growth in the region will have by mid-century and how this growth will affect audiences and ideas about existing museum frameworks. Additionally, the platform has a distinct focus on being a resource for young people from all over China, many of whom largely work and inhabit these institutions, as well as providing a place to converse, share ideas and create a vibrant museum community.
About He Art Museum
He Art Museum (HEM), is a private non-profit art institution opening on March 21st, 2020 and located in Shunde, Guangdong, in the nexus of the traffic flows of the Greater Bay Area. HEM is devoted to the collection, exhibition, research, education and dissemination of knowledge about modern Chinese art and global contemporary art. It hopes to be a place of exchange for international art grounded in local cultures and provide a platform for effective communication and research on the development of both Chinese and international art practices. The architecture of HEM, totaling 16,000 square meters, is designed by architect Tadao Ando. The exhibition space will exhibit HEM’s comprehensive collections as well as special curated domestic and international programs. HEM’s inaugural exhibition, From the Mundane World, will run from March 21 to July 21, 2020.
About the event
Each year, Museum 2050 works with a different hosting institution in China to realize a multi-day symposium which not only includes an academic conference and career development workshops, but also a day of outings to other cultural and creatives spaces in the museum’s landscape. The academic conference is always free and open to the public (as well as being available via livestream) while interested participating institutions are welcome to reach out regarding inclusion in the professional training workshops and corresponding outings.
Application procedure
The Organizing Committee of Museum 2050 is calling for abstract submissions on the theme Cultural Alliances: The Imperatives and Challenges of Collaboration. Our third annual conference will be held in Shunde, Guangdong, China, from the 15th to 17th of May, 2020. We will accept mostly paper presentations, but also a limited number of presentations delivered through other media, such as films, music, and performance art. We invite innovative research on a wide variety of topics that address the intersection of fields including but not restricted to: Anthropology, Sociology and Cultural Studies, Architecture and Design, Art and Visual Culture, Education, History, Literature, Media Studies, and Museology.
All proposals should include a paper or presentation title and an abstract of 250 words in PDF format and may be submitted in either English or Chinese.
To apply, please send all proposals directly via email to contact@museum2050.com by February 7, 2020.
Selected applications will be contacted by February 24, 2020.
Limited travel stipends are available based on merit. If you wish to be considered for a travel stipend, please include an additional 300-word statement on how participating in the symposium would contribute to your professional development. For inquiries, please do not hesitate to email contact@museum2050.com.
