[Commlist] Call for conference: “Unfolding the City: Art as an Agent of Transformation"

The Academy of Sciences of Albania, Center of Arts Study, organizes on 
December 11–12, 2024, the international conference “Unfolding the City: 
Art as an Agent of Transformation," first Albanian  conference on art in 
 public spaces.

Albania's modern history is closely linked to the fifty-year communist 
dictatorship, during which the party's propaganda strictly regulated all 
forms of artistic and cultural expression. This naturally encompassed 
the development of urban and architectural landscapes in cities, as well 
as public art, which served as a propaganda instrument.

Currently, Albanian society is in the process of redefining its identity 
as it navigates the political and economic transition. The society has 
endeavored to assimilate all of the most recent advancements and changes 
in the minimum possible time. Art has become a more significant 
component of the theoretical discourse concerning the evolution of 
cities as a result of its parallel trajectory, with one path conveying 
the dominant political ideology and the other providing a counter-narrative.

This is particularly apparent when discussing art in public spaces, 
which encompasses a variety of spatio-temporal dynamics that reflect 
both aesthetic and ethical concerns. Also, the social and political 
structure are directly impacted by these issues, as art in public spaces 
is located in a context that is not protected by museums, galleries, or 
other institutions. History has demonstrated that a work of art can be 
either embraced or rejected by the community, and it can be highly 
significant for urban activism, "right to the city" movements, and the 
expansion of urban areas. A critical examination of the role that public 
art can (and perhaps should) play in the policies that determine the 
structure of cities is currently more necessary than ever.

The conference " Unfolding the city: Art as an agent of transformation" 
seeks to intensify these arguments and broaden the scope of the 
relationship between art and the city in the Albanian context. 
Additionally, it seeks to comprehend the development and replications of 
this relationship in other European and Balkan contexts. At this 
conference, we will explore the perception of public art and its 
capacity to incite discourse in greater depth. This is achieved by 
highlighting the conceptual, political, and social aspects of the works, 
in addition to the aesthetic experience they provide.

We encourage academics, specialists, researchers, and young scholars 
from a diverse array of disciplines (Communication and Media Studies 
scholars are encouraged to participate) to discuss and present the 
diverse facets of art in relation to urban spaces, such as, but not 
limited to:
 1. The role of art as a platform for change and resistance.
 2. The potential of art to redefine the concept of public space by 
promoting new perspectives.
 3. The impact of public art on the growth of Albanian cities.
 4. The capacity of public art to foster community through its utilization.
 5. The emancipatory nature of art, which provides marginalized 
subjects and voices in the city with a platform to convey their needs 
and existence.
 6. Utilizing artistic expression to generate novel narratives in urban 
settings.
 7. The capacity of art to challenge and reframe our sensory and 
aesthetic perspectives on the metropolis.
 8. Architectural strategies for the development of a novel perception 
of the city.
 9. The potential of urban design to revolutionize social inclusion 
strategies.

Abstract Submission Guidelines:
Length: Max 300 words
Include: Title, author(s) name(s), title(s) and affiliation(s), email 
address, up to five keywords, short bio (maximum 100 words)
Abstract Submission Deadline: September 27, 2024
Notification of Acceptance: October 25, 2024
Submission Email: (infostudimiarteve /at/ akad.gov.al)
For further inquiries: (anxhela.cikopano /at/ akad.gov.al)
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