Future Worldings Conference

On behalf of Griffin Art Projects, Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research and the Aboriginal Gathering Place at Emily Carr University, we are pleased to invite you to attend the Future Worldings Conference on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 9 AM to 7 PM at the Reliance Theatre at Emily Carr University.

The Future Worldings Conference is presented in partnership with the Aboriginal Gathering Place + Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at Emily Carr University, and in collaboration with the UBC Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice.

The Future Worldings Conference considers approaches to shared “worldmaking,” employing a collective and collaborative methodology that arises from the contributions of partners, presenters and audience members. The Future Worldings Conference provides a forum to work alongside and with one another to articulate and reflect on our shared relations to the unfolding concerns of thinking through decolonial futures together. The Future Worldings Conference also considers how it may be possible to retain the specificities of site, body, history, access and cultural understandings in order to “world” together.

Featuring presentations with Nura Ali, Lisa Baldissera, Sven Christian, Randy Lee Cutler, Bongi Dhlomo, Sun Forest, Dora Alejandra Gaviria-Sernal, Mimi Gellman, Wezile Harmans, Lebogang Mogul Mabusela, Pebofatso Mokoena, David Ng, Usha Seejarim, Daniel Stompie Selibe, Sikho Siyotula, Karen Tam, Pat Vera, Daina Warren, and Xwalacktun. The day’s events will also feature a special post-conference Reception & Performances with Pebofatso Mokoena (South Africa) and See Monsters (Canada), to be held from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Aboriginal Gathering Place.

Future Worldings Conference Schedule

9:00 AM–9:15 AM
Introductions + Welcome
With Xwalacktun + Daniel Stompie Selibe.

9:15 AM–10:30 AM
Panel 1: Distance and Proximity
Presenters: Sven Christian + Bongi Dhlomo. Moderated by Sikho Siyotula.
Co-organized by Future Worldings curator Usha Seejarim and guest panelists.

10:30 AM–10:45 AM
Coffee Break

10:45 AM–12:00 PM
Panel 2: Navigating Turtle Island
Presenters: Mimi Gellman + Pat Vera. Moderated by Daina Warren.
Organized by the Aboriginal Gathering Place + Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies, Emily Carr University.

12:00 PM–1:30 PM
Lunch Break

1:30PM–2:45 PM
Panel 3: Weaving, Dancing and Activating Memories
Presenters: Dora Alejandra Gaviria-Sernal + David Ng. Moderated by Randy Lee Cutler.
Organized by the Transformative Memory Network / Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, University of British Columbia.

2:45 PM–3:00 PM
Coffee Break

3:00 PM–4:15 PM
Panel 4: Future Worldings Artist + Curator Roundtable
With Nura Ali, Sun Forest, Wezile Harmans, Lebogang Mogul Mabusela, Pebofatso Mokoena and Xwalacktun. Moderated by exhibition curators Lisa Baldissera, Usha Seejarim and Karen Tam.
Organized by Griffin Art Projects.

4:30 - 4:45 PM Closing Remarks with Future Worldings Conference co-producers.

5:00 PM–7:00 PM
Reception + Performances
Hosted by the Aboriginal Gathering Place.
Featuring music and performance with Pebofatso Mokoena and See Monsters (Bracken Hanuse Corlett + Dean Hunt).

To attend the conference via Zoom, please register here: https://emilycarru.zoom.us/j/67370357407?pwd=9k1RmkPUllPp5PQTqpSTRO4iu4Z6P1.1

Future Worldings is generously supported by funding received from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Freybe Foundation, the Government of Canada, the Hamber Foundation, Metro Vancouver's Regional Cultural Project Grants program, the Michael and Inna O’Brian Family Foundation, North Vancouver Recreation and Culture, the Peter and Betty Haworth Fund at the West Vancouver Foundation, and the Vancity Community Branch Grant. Xwalacktun’s South African residencies were generously supported by funding received from the BC Arts Council’s Professional Development grant.

Future Worldings is produced in partnership with the Aboriginal Gathering Place and the Jake Kerr Faculty of Graduate Studies at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Artist Proof Studios, Bag Factory, Contemporary Art Society Vancouver, NIROX Foundation, Similkameen Artist Residency and Transformative Memory Network / Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, University of British Columbia.