Connexion
call: The Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology 18th Triennial Symposium 2026
Deadline: 31 August 2025
Call for Entries
The Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology 18th Triennial Symposium
March 26–28, 2026
Keynote Speaker: Katerina Cizek
Commissioned artists:
Kate Ladenheim, Gestural Publics
Mathieu Pradat, Giants and Susuwataris
Tansy Xiao, LUCA
Proposal deadline for general submissions: August 31, 2025
The Ammerman Center at Connecticut College seeks submissions for its 2026 Symposium on Arts and Technology being held March 26–28, 2026, at Connecticut College. The aim of the Symposium, celebrating its 40th anniversary, is to create an inclusive forum for multidisciplinary dialogues, exhibitions and performances at the intersection of arts, technology, and contemporary culture.
What is the Arts and Technology symposium, and what makes it unique?
As much a media-arts festival as it is an academic symposium, the event functions as a creative, interdisciplinary retreat, mixing up to 100 outside participants of wildly different backgrounds with our own faculty and students at our beautiful campus-arboretum, halfway between Boston and NYC. We strongly emphasize having no passive observers: all participants tend to also present in some venue throughout the weekend, and we work to create multiple formal and informal spaces for conversation, creative exchange and interaction.
Participants, selected via an open call, come from all backgrounds, with a mix of those fully based in academia as well as emerging, independent and local artists, supported via our participation grants. They come from across the region and the country as well as internationally.
Our keynote speaker will be Katerina Cizek, Artistic Director, Co-Founder and Executive Producer of the Co-Creation Studio at MIT Open Documentary Lab. The Symposium will feature presentations from several multi-disciplinary works commissioned by the Ammerman Center over the past year, alongside panel discussions and paper presentations, workshops, artist talks, gallery exhibitions, music and sound concerts, installations, screenings, public interventions and live performances.
Symposium 2026 Site
Symposium 2026 Submission Form
SYMPOSIUM THEME: ALL TOO HUMAN
What does it mean at this particular moment and place to be human, more-than-human, or within the spectrum between? What is the state of humanistic ideals in our precarious techno-political landscape? Scientific and technological advances affect bodies–as extensions, prostheses, knowledge producers, resistance, and beyond. This year’s theme seeks to read the human with and against the grain using arts and technology as potent vectors of inquiry.
“All Too Human” centers the Human and troubles its boundaries: it seeks definition into what is essential to the human, how humanness unites communities, yet also divides through xenophobia. It engages with the state of Humanism as a philosophy, and the challenges to it. How do technology and techno-optimism collide or collaborate with Humanism? How do we remain humanistic in the face of extreme strife, from authoritarian rule, to climate crisis, war, and automation? Who gets to decide what or who is human, and how are technological and representational systems implicated in this process?
“All Too Human” considers the Non-Human: it expresses the aspirations, anxieties and critical thought over the non-human as it becomes more powerful, autonomous, and generative. Is there a point at which technological agents could be considered human? What would other forms be that these agents could take that stretch or disrupt our understanding of what humanity is? As we grow more aware, through old and new ways of knowing, of the agency of non-humans from plants to animals to fungi, where are the lines drawn? And what is the role of art and technology in catalyzing and criticizing all of the above?
“All Too Human” is simultaneously strength and precarity; it gets at the heart of collective knowledge and collaboration as much as it considers radical individualism. To be human, all too human, is to be creative, generative, and in conversation with those around you and a larger, globalized experience.
We seek:
Papers: 15 minute presentations of scholarly work, theory, artist talks, and more.
Panels: set of 3-4 presenters together; otherwise we will curate panels out of submitted talks
Workshops: technology focused crash-courses, work-in-process feedback or participation, or art/social practice based activities
Music and sound performances
Artwork in all old and new media for the symposium exhibition: including site-specific interventions and performances and experimental design.
Performing arts: Dance, Theater, and Performance Art
Single channel screen-based work: Video, Film, and Animation (for exhibition or evening screenings)
Demo/poster tables: works in progress or completed
Lightning talks: brief, 5-8 artist talks, works in progress or completed
See below for details on each of these areas, and the Resources page on our website for the available support and spaces for each.
In our continuing efforts toward equity, diversity, and collaboration in the field, and how the fields of arts and technology are shifting in the 21st century, scholars and artists from underrepresented communities and early career practitioners from the northeast region are especially encouraged to apply, including independent artists, scholars, and adjuncts. Available funding will be prioritized to support such applicants. Registration will be available on a sliding scale, with several full participation and travel grants available (see below).
SUBMISSIONS
For information on venue specifications and technical capabilities, see our Resource and Venue Information Page.
All submissions must be completed on our website. If you cannot use a Google account, please email requisite material described below to cat@conncoll.edu with subject line “Symposium Submission.” Some submissions may be recommended for alternative forms of presentation depending upon material and curatorial necessity, to be communicated and discussed between those who submit and the conference committee.
All submissions must include: the submitter’s contact information, CV, a basic title and up to 150 word description of the submission and any additional information and supporting materials as required by the submission category: see below for details.
All submissions are limited to 2 per person, with the exception of panel organizers.
PANELS
Proposals for special sessions and panel discussions of 3-4 participants and a moderator are encouraged. To apply for such a session, a panel proposal must be submitted, alongside individual submissions for each of the speakers. These may be submitted by the speakers themselves or by the organizer of the panel on their behalf. Each individual submission must indicate that it is aiming to be part of a panel. Panels are expected to last for about an hour.
Additional required information: 1-2 page abstract, including title, presenters, and presentation topics.
PAPERS
This category includes scholarly work and reports on research, theory, or artwork, artist talks, and position papers raising original and provocative theoretical or practical discourses and questions. The default duration of all paper presentations and talks is 15 minutes. Papers may be submitted independently or as a group submitting a full panel (see above).
Additional required information: two-page extended abstract or complete paper, upon acceptance, a revised 4-8 page paper must be submitted as a PDF in provided format for publication in the Symposium Proceedings. All rights will remain with the author. Paper authors will give 15 minute oral presentations during the paper sessions.
WORKSHOPS
Technology, Project-based and Participatory, or Work-in-progress sharing
Technology demonstrations and hands-on workshop submissions in all forms of media are welcome. For demonstrations or workshops we assume that the presenters will provide the necessary equipment and materials. The Ammerman Center will be able to provide classroom space and a limited selection of tools and hardware. Duration of the workshop is flexible and can be negotiated with the Symposium coordinators.
Technology workshops: These could include presentation of approaches to creative and experimental uses of technology or skill shares.
Project-based / Participatory workshops: Opportunities for demonstrations of work and collaborative / participatory project development.
Work-in-Progress sharing: Demonstrations can be part of specific projects and could be formatted to solicit feedback from the audience. Multiple presentations in a single session serve to connect practitioners and encourage engagement and collaboration at all stages of development.
Some submissions may be recommended for this type of presentation depending upon material and curatorial necessity, to be communicated and discussed between those who submit and the conference committee.
Additional required information: optional extended description including goals and duration (pdf); a technical rider (pdf) as needed to include: materials and tools supplied by the presenter, complete technical needs from the Ammerman Center including workspace, seating, tools, software/hardware, lighting, power, and all other requirements.
DEMO / POSTER TABLES
We invite display tables of creative and/or research praxis as part of a session with a number of other presenters. Presenters will be able to engage with questions and feedback in a designated session, and engagement throughout the Symposium is also possible. This is a useful opportunity to develop new work, work in progress, or as a conclusion/demonstration of a past work. It is expected that materials and tools are supplied by the presenter. Some submissions may be recommended for this type of presentation depending upon material and curatorial necessity, to be communicated and discussed between those who submit and the conference committee.
Additional required information: none, optional extended description / tech requirements may be included
.
LIGHTNING TALKS
This set of brief (5-8 minute) presentations is for feedback and discussion of work. All types of presentations are welcome. This is a useful opportunity to develop new work, work in progress, or as a conclusion/demonstration of a past work. Several talks will be groups as one event.
Some submissions may be recommended for this type of presentation depending upon material and curatorial necessity, to be communicated and discussed between those who submit and the conference committee.
Additional required information: supporting media based on the proposed presentation (images / audio / video etc).
MUSIC AND SOUND PERFORMANCES
Music and sound submissions could take many forms including: work for live instruments with electronic sounds and/or digital media, voice, interactive performances, live laptop improvisations, customized or hand-made electronics, or electronic sounds alone (fixed media). All works representative of any of the rich array of approaches, styles, and media possible within electroacoustic musics are welcome.
Works under 12 minutes will receive preference.
Pianist available to perform submitted pieces.
Additional required information: sample audio / video materials, optional extended (1 page or less) description, technical rider with: complete technical, equipment and performance needs, what the artist will provide (i.e. laptop with customized software, hand-made electronics), indication of who will be performing (artist, additional musician/performer, fixed media playback), and accompanying scores/recordings as appropriate.
EXHIBITION and INTERVENTIONS
Potential media includes: 2D and 3D objects, responsive environments, bio-art, kinetics, audio, video, net.art, AR/VR and hybrid installations, Performance Art, Social-Practice Art, as well as socio-eco design including experimental architecture and environmental interventions. Works that challenge disciplinary boundaries are specifically encouraged. A series of smaller works may be considered as one submission.
Single channel screen-based work should be submitted through its own category, and may be shown either in one of the exhibition venues or in one of our evening programs. See below.
Sound work: may be submitted either to the exhibition or to the listening program in one of our concert events.
Selected works will be presented in a group exhibition or as pop-up installations / interventions / performances at any of the following venues (artists may indicate their interest in these in their application):
Main venue–the Arts and Technology Gallery at Cummings: large (roughly 100 x 100 foot) open shared “pop-up” exhibition space in the first floor of the Cummings Art Center (see photos). Duration: 1 month.
Pop-up installations / exhibits – JTC Atrium Gallery at Cummings and additional spaces throughout the Art Center (the main venue for the symposium). Duration: 3 days (the symposium weekend) or longer based on availability and viability.
Outdoors location / elsewhere on campus (including our arboretum) maybe possible for site specific proposals pending approval of relevant entities, as long as installation is undertaken by the artist.
Projection mapping: We’re interested in proposals for site-specific projection mapping work, for which we can provide a 7000 Lumens laser projector and a PA system. The work should engage with particular surfaces on campus – in particular those of Cummings Art Center or Palmer Auditorium.
Complex projects may be presented in a paper and/or panel presentation, with a smaller accompanying work in the exhibition.
Installation of selected work is the artist’s responsibility. We will provide technical assistance for primarily safety or heavy equipment related issues, and may provide some additional installation help as available.
Shipping is the artists’ responsibility, although a small budget is available for return shipping of small items.
Additional required information: dimensions and/or duration, media details, technical rider if needed, sample digital materials, shipping needed.
PERFORMING ARTS: DANCE, THEATER, AND PERFORMANCE ART
Dance compositions, theater works, and performance art pieces that incorporate technologies in meaningful ways are being solicited for performances, live demonstrations, or digitally recorded presentations.
Also of interest are proposals for workshops, demonstrations of software for dance or theater notation, choreographic analysis, interactive studies and/or multimedia studies of performance in dance and theater–see the appropriate submission categories for each (i.e Papers, Workshops and Demos, etc). Acceptance of performances will depend on financial considerations as well as technical and space needs.
Works under 15 minutes will receive preference.
Additional required information: optional extended description/abstract, technical rider, complete technical, performance and spatial needs, plus digital media that show the work under consideration.
SCREEN BASED WORK:
VIDEO, FILM, AND ANIMATION
Submissions of short single-channel, screen-based video or digital film are being solicited. Submissions may span a range of formats, from experimental to documentary, video-essay, narrative short, or other emerging forms intended for onscreen viewing. For other types of moving-image presentation such as live cinema or installation see previous categories.
Selected work may be screened as part of an evening event and/or as part of the exhibition at the symposium.
Guidelines: for review, please submit samples no longer than 5 minutes, alongside 3 representative images and a short description.
Additional required information: duration, preferred screening format, credits and link (or uploaded file) to view the submission online.
FORMATTING GUIDELINES FOR YOUR MATERIALS:
Images: .jpg (not to exceed 1920×1080), maximum 10 images, compressed in a ZIP file or edited into a pdf.
Documents: .pdf, .doc, .docx ; one page maximum, except in the case of extended abstracts for papers that are limited to two pages.
Maximum combined duration for audio and video media samples is 5 minutes. We may only view or listen to the first 5 minutes of your piece; however, you may indicate a different 5-minute segment of your piece, if you feel that would be more representative of your work for our consideration.
Audio: .mp3 encoded at 320 kbps.
Video: share your video via a video sharing or cloud storage service with a minimum resolution of 1920×1080. Please include the full link plus password, if password protected.
AMMERMAN INDEPENDENT SCHOLAR / ARTIST FUNDING
The Ammerman Center seeks to support artists/scholars who demonstrate excellence in their work and a commitment to their careers and artistic communities. There is limited funding for early career, graduate student, adjunct, and independent scholars and artists for the Friday-night dinner, travel, and accommodations for the Symposium. After completing the submission form, applicants need to submit a statement of engagement and budget to cat@conncoll.edu with the subject line “Independent Scholar/Artist Funding.” All questions regarding this program may be directed to the same address.
IMPORTANT DATES
August 31, 2025: General Submission Deadline
October 1: General Acceptance Notification
February 1, 2026: Final Paper and Other Texts (pdf) Submission Deadline
March 23-26: Installation Period for Group Exhibition
March 26, 27, and 28, 2026: Symposium at Connecticut College
THE 2026 SYMPOSIUM IS SUPPORTED BY the Connecticut College community including the Arts departments, OnStage, The Office of the President, and The New Media Caucus, an international non-profit association formed to promote the development and understanding of new media art, an official affiliate of the College Art Association.
