Jobs & Opportunities » Opportunities

Place. People. Purpose: A Symposium of Art, Culture, and Community

Type: Conferences & Symposia [View all]
Posted by: The Haan Museum of Indiana Art
Deadline: Tue, August 11th, 2026

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Place. People. Purpose.

A Symposium of Art, Culture, and Community

Haan Museum of Indiana Art  |  Lafayette, Indiana

Monday, September 28 – Tuesday, September 29, 2026

About the Symposium

Place. People. Purpose. brings together artists, educators, scholars, and community leaders for a two-day gathering exploring art’s power to activate place, deepen identity, and strengthen community. Held at the Haan Museum of Indiana Art—itself a living artifact of American cultural history—the symposium pairs rigorous conversation with hands-on practice, celebrating Indiana’s creative legacy as a lens for understanding who we are and where we are going.

Attendance is capped at 50 participants across the two days, ensuring an intimate setting for genuine exchange.

Symposium Goals

Illuminate the relationship between art, place, and community identity in Indiana and beyond

Connect artists-in-residence, educators, scholars, and civic leaders in sustained dialogue

Document and celebrate Indiana’s craft and cultural heritage through community-based storytelling

Explore sustainability in arts practice—financial, ecological, and institutional

Empower a new generation of Hoosier makers, thinkers, and cultural stewards

Thematic Framework

We invite proposals for workshops, presentations, and working sessions that engage with one or more of the following interconnected themes:

Place

How does geography—Indiana’s landscapes, cities, and communities—shape artistic vision? What does it mean to make art about and from a specific place?

People

Who are the makers, teachers, and storytellers who carry Indiana’s creative traditions forward? How do we document, celebrate, and learn from living artists?

Purpose

Why does art matter to communities and institutions? How do cultural organizations sustain themselves and remain relevant? What is the artist’s responsibility, if any, to the public?

What We’re Looking For

We welcome proposals in a variety of formats, including:

Hands-on art making (studio practice, craft, or making sessions)

Lectures / workshops on thematic topics grounded in research, history, or lived experience

Lightning talks (short, focused presentations)

Posters

Hands-on art making sessions and lecture/workshops should be designed for 45–75 minutes and should invite active participation rather than passive listening wherever possible. Lightning talks should run 5–10 minutes; posters will be displayed for viewing and discussion throughout the symposium. We especially welcome proposals from Indiana-based artists, educators, post-secondary students, and cultural practitioners, though the symposium is open to voices from beyond the state whose work speaks to these themes.

Proposal Guidelines

Please submit the following:

Session title

Format (hands-on art making, lecture/workshop, lightning talk, or poster)

Primary theme(s) addressed (Place, People, and/or Purpose)

Session description (250 words or fewer, suitable for promotional use)

Presenter name(s), affiliation, and short biography (150 words or fewer)

Technical, space, or material needs

Preferred session length (45–75 min for hands-on/lecture sessions; 5–10 min for lightning talks; n/a for posters)

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed for relevance to the Place, People, and Purpose themes; originality and depth of engagement with Indiana’s artistic and cultural landscape; potential for meaningful participant interaction; and overall balance across the symposium’s schedule.

Key Dates & Submission

Proposal deadline: Friday, July 31, 2026

Notification of acceptance: Aug 12, 2026

Symposium dates: Monday, September 28 – Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Location: Haan Museum of Indiana Art, Lafayette, Indiana

Symposium Registration

All confirmed speakers must register

Registration is $125 and includes meals, sessions, and entertainment

Lodging partner, first come first served, is The Whittaker Inn. Contact Kelly at The Haan for details.

Program Location: Haan Museum of Indiana Art, Lafayette, Indiana

Submit proposals to People. Place. Purpose Proposals (https://tinyurl.com/placepeoplepurpose)

 

Questions may be directed to Kelly Rosales at admin@haanmuseum.org

 

Posted on Mon, July 13th, 2026
Expires on Tue, August 11th, 2026

CAA is not responsible for the content of listings in the Opportunities section. All postings are subject to review; inappropriate submissions will not be published.