CARPA 9 conference in 2025: Call for presentations
The theme for the ninth international conference on artistic research is Ecological Design and Performance Pedagogies: Sustainable Practices and Interdisciplinary Acts in a Climate Changed World.
The Performing Arts Research Centre, together with the master’s programmes in Scenography, Lighting design, Sound design, Theatre pedagogy and Dance pedagogy of the University of the Arts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy, and the Performance + Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) of the Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI) of Griffith University, Australia, are announcing the ninth international conference on artistic research.
The call closes on 3 November 2024 at 23:59.
As researchers, practitioners, educators, and mentors we ask how we can foster ecological stewardship and facilitate co-action to be change-makers in the future. This is also in accordance with vision of Uniarts Helsinki, “that art is part of the solution to the ecological sustainability crisis” and P+ERL´s dedication to furthering climate justice across all aspects of contemporary theatre-making.
The colloquium explores pedagogical approaches to, in, and for performance making in a climate changed world. CARPA9 is an international platform bringing together different perspectives and concerns around understanding and enacting climate justice in performing arts training and research.
The colloquium’s invited keynote speakers are Dr. Raisa Foster (FIN) and Dylan Van Den Berg (AUS). Read more on their work.
We encourage you to familiarise yourself with the full Vision statement of the colloquium.
Proposal guidelines
The colloquium is structured in three interrelated strands running in parallel: 1) Ecological Design Practices, 2) Ecological Performance Making and 3) Ecological Storytelling.
In your submission, you should indicate a priority order for which of these strands you see your presentation is matching as well as the format and technical requirements of your presentation (see below). Also, please indicate 3–5 keywords that best describe your presentation.
1. Ecological Design Practices
The global ecological crisis calls for the exploration of new practices in performance production and eco-scenography across areas such as set, costume, lighting, and sound. In this theme, focused on ‘Ecological Design Practices’, we are interested in how researchers, practitioners, educators and mentors have integrated sustainability into their processes. How is ecological thinking being applied across performance design and production programmes and practices across the globe? How is implementing an environmentally conscious approach to materials and resources changing aesthetics or transforming production processes in higher education and beyond? What are the challenges and opportunities of integrating eco-scenography and/or sustainability into set and costume design, scenic and prop construction, lighting and sound? How is this pedagogical shift being led across organisations, departments and training programmes? We are interested in including perspectives on the transition towards more sustainable practices both in and beyond the academy.
For this strand we invite proposals for papers or workshops, focusing on ecological performance making. Topics may include but are not limited to the following:
- Emerging aesthetics in eco-scenography
- New explorations in materials and resource management
- Models, tools and techniques of teaching and implementing sustainable design and production practices
- Sustainability-focused mentorships, teachings and learnings
- Student responses to sustainability themes, policies and practices
2. Ecological Performance Making
The global ecological crisis calls for the exploration of new performance making practices across performing arts disciplines. In this theme, focused on ‘Ecological Performance Making’, we are interested in how researchers, practitioners, educators and mentors have integrated ecological thinking into their performance making processes. How is ecological thinking informing new works for performance? How is it being applied across creative development, performative imaginings and performance making across the globe? How can implementing environmentally conscious themes and ideas inform performance making choices in higher education and beyond? What are the challenges and opportunities of integrating ecological and environmental themes and sustainability processes into performance making? How does this thinking inform the development of the performance process? Is this pedagogical shift evident in educational and professional practice from devising ideas through to fully formed productions? We are interested in including multiple perspectives about developing and implementing ecological themes into performance making practices in and beyond the academy.
For this strand we invite proposals for papers or workshops, focusing on ecological performance making. Topics may include but are not limited to the following:
- Developing performance within the academy
- Creative processes that inform ecological performance
- Techniques and processes for teaching environmental and ecological performance practice
- Aesthetic responses to climate change from human and more-than-human perspectives
- Multidisciplinary responses to sustainability themes and practices in and as performance making
- Drawing on post-humanist approaches to inform performance practice and enhance learnings about educational responses to climate change
3. Ecological Storytelling
The global ecological crisis calls for a rethinking of our relationship to the environment and how we tell stories that embrace a post-humanist approach. This theme, ‘Ecological Storytelling’, is interested in how researchers, practitioners, educators and mentors conceptualise the notion of ecological in relation to storytelling across various performing arts disciplines. In what ways can First Nations and other non-hegemonic knowledges (re)shape ecological theory and thinking in/through storytelling? How can adopting ‘climate dramaturgy’ in storytelling processes interrogate relationships between human and more-than-human? We are interested in including diverse perspectives about developing and implementing ecological themes into storytelling processes in and beyond the academy. How might we develop pedagogies that activate multidisciplinary forms of ecological storytelling?
For this strand we invite proposals for papers or workshops, focusing on this theme. Topics may include but are not limited to the following:
- New explorations in ecological storytelling
- Ecological storytelling and posthumanism
- Ecofeminism in/as storytelling
- Decentring anthropocentric storytelling through First Nations knowledges and perspectives
- Storytelling for eco-justice and eco-citizenship
Forms and time frames of the presentations
Presentations can take the format of indoor presentations such as papers, workshops, lecture-performances, multimodal presentations, and co-designed experiments. We also encourage other formats (e.g. roundtables, lecture-demonstrations, workshares, scores, prototypes, durational work) for this type of research practice sharing. Please select the appropriate category for your research and specify the proposed format requirements in the submission form.
In addition, we offer the opportunity to work outdoors in and around Uniarts Helsinki’s Sörnäinen campus. Do note that some open-air areas around the campus buildings may require additional permissions for use that we cannot assist you with, please email us in advance if considering a specific site for your presentation.
- Paper presentations: 30 minutes, including a 10-minute discussion.
- Workshops: 60 minutes, including a 15-minute discussion.
- Workshares, lecture-performances, multimodal presentations: 45 minutes, including a 15-minute discussion.
- Scores, co-designed experiments: 60 minutes, including a 15-minute discussion.
- Outdoors: 90 minutes, including a discussion.
- Prototype
- Durational work
- Roundtables: 90 minutes
Technical requirements
We welcome creative presentations for all formats, but please be mindful of the conference theme and that there is limited technical support available. Indoor spaces have basic AV (screen and sound).
Please note that we do not offer light or sound design for your presentation or any production services. Do consider that there is very limited time for the technical set up during the programme breaks. Please let us know in your submission what your technical needs are, so that we can allocate our resources in the best way possible. We may also contact you before making our final decision.
Spaces available
There are Studios 1 and 3, Theatre Hall, Auditorium 1 and Rehearsal Room 525 reserved for the conference:
- Studio 1
- Studio 3
- Theatre Hall
- Auditorium 1
- Rehearsal room 525 (296 m2, wooden floor)
Uniarts Helsinki guidelines on sustainability
Accessibility
While the conference can only host a limited number of presentations, the conference committee appreciates inclusivity in its evaluation of the proposals. Please indicate your accessibility needs in the submission form. However, do note that due to planned renovations in the Kookos building of the Sörnäinen campus in 2025, we cannot guarantee full access to all spaces on campus at this point.
How to submit a proposal
Presentations can be submitted by individuals or groups. If you have a group presentation, please submit only one application form. The language of the conference is English.
Those interested should send a 2500-character abstract and a short (max. 580-character) biography of each participating contributor (in case of a joint submission), and indicate the format, time frame, and, if applicable, particular space and equipment needed for the presentation by 3 November 2024, at 23:59 (EET, Europe-Helsinki, UTC +2) through the electronic submissions service Lyyti.
You will get a confirmation email after your submission with a link that allows you to edit your proposal until the deadline. Please remember to save your confirmation email!
Acceptance notice
Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by email by 20 February 2025.
Accepted presenters are asked to confirm their participation and submit the completed abstract by 28 February 2025 (EET, Europe-Helsinki, UTC +2).
Conference fee and registration
General registration will open on 2 June and closes 14 August 2025.
All conference fees include participation in all sessions and light lunches between 28–30 August 2025.
- Conference fee for participants and presenters: 190€
- Concession fee (students with valid student ID): 100€
Please note that no free admittance is offered to Uniarts Helsinki faculty, staff, or students.
Notice, if you have a group presentation each member must register and pay separately.
The conference also promotes accessibility by offering a quota of free registrations for participants from the Global South. In the submission form, you can indicate your interest in being included in this quota in a separate section (max. 1000 character). Unfortunately, we cannot pay any travel or accommodation costs.
For more information about CARPA 9 and past conferences, see the CARPA website.
See the proceedings of the former CARPA conferences.
If you have any inquiries about the location, theme or accessibility of the colloquium, please do not hesitate to email teak.carpa@uniarts.fi
We look forward to hearing from you!
Conference committee
Conference committee members of the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland:
- Hanna Järvinen (Chair), Head of the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke)
- Liisa Ikonen, Professor, MA Degree Programme in Scenography
- Tomi Humalisto, Professor, MA Degree Programme in Lighting Design
- Tuomas Fränti, Professor, MA Degree Programme in Sound Design
- Raisa Kilpeläinen, Lecturer in Performance Design, MA Degree Programme in Lighting Design
- Riku Saastamoinen, University Lecturer, MA Degree Programme in Theatre Pedagogy
- Eeva Anttila, Professor, MA Degree Programme in Dance Pedagogy
Conference committee members of the Performance + Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) of the Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI) Griffith University, Australia:
- Dr. Tanja Beer, Lecturer in Design, Co-director, Co-director P+ERL
- Dr. Linda Hassall, Program Director, Bachelor Creative Industries, Co-director P+ERL
- Dr Natalie Lazaroo, Lecturer in Education (Drama), Co-director P+ERL
Conference practical management
The Performing Arts Research Centre, together with the master’s programmes in Scenography, Lighting design, Sound design, Theatre pedagogy and Dance pedagogy of the University of the Arts Helsinki’s Theatre Academy, and the Performance + Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) of the Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI) of Griffith University, Australia, are announcing the ninth international conference on artistic research.
The call closes on 3 November 2024 at 23:59.
As researchers, practitioners, educators, and mentors we ask how we can foster ecological stewardship and facilitate co-action to be change-makers in the future. This is also in accordance with vision of Uniarts Helsinki, “that art is part of the solution to the ecological sustainability crisis” and P+ERL´s dedication to furthering climate justice across all aspects of contemporary theatre-making.
The colloquium explores pedagogical approaches to, in, and for performance making in a climate changed world. CARPA9 is an international platform bringing together different perspectives and concerns around understanding and enacting climate justice in performing arts training and research.
The colloquium’s invited keynote speakers are Dr. Raisa Foster (FIN) and Dylan Van Den Berg (AUS). Read more on their work.
We encourage you to familiarise yourself with the full Vision statement of the colloquium.
Proposal guidelines
The colloquium is structured in three interrelated strands running in parallel: 1) Ecological Design Practices, 2) Ecological Performance Making and 3) Ecological Storytelling.
In your submission, you should indicate a priority order for which of these strands you see your presentation is matching as well as the format and technical requirements of your presentation (see below). Also, please indicate 3–5 keywords that best describe your presentation.
1. Ecological Design Practices
The global ecological crisis calls for the exploration of new practices in performance production and eco-scenography across areas such as set, costume, lighting, and sound. In this theme, focused on ‘Ecological Design Practices’, we are interested in how researchers, practitioners, educators and mentors have integrated sustainability into their processes. How is ecological thinking being applied across performance design and production programmes and practices across the globe? How is implementing an environmentally conscious approach to materials and resources changing aesthetics or transforming production processes in higher education and beyond? What are the challenges and opportunities of integrating eco-scenography and/or sustainability into set and costume design, scenic and prop construction, lighting and sound? How is this pedagogical shift being led across organisations, departments and training programmes? We are interested in including perspectives on the transition towards more sustainable practices both in and beyond the academy.
For this strand we invite proposals for papers or workshops, focusing on ecological performance making. Topics may include but are not limited to the following:
- Emerging aesthetics in eco-scenography
- New explorations in materials and resource management
- Models, tools and techniques of teaching and implementing sustainable design and production practices
- Sustainability-focused mentorships, teachings and learnings
- Student responses to sustainability themes, policies and practices
2. Ecological Performance Making
The global ecological crisis calls for the exploration of new performance making practices across performing arts disciplines. In this theme, focused on ‘Ecological Performance Making’, we are interested in how researchers, practitioners, educators and mentors have integrated ecological thinking into their performance making processes. How is ecological thinking informing new works for performance? How is it being applied across creative development, performative imaginings and performance making across the globe? How can implementing environmentally conscious themes and ideas inform performance making choices in higher education and beyond? What are the challenges and opportunities of integrating ecological and environmental themes and sustainability processes into performance making? How does this thinking inform the development of the performance process? Is this pedagogical shift evident in educational and professional practice from devising ideas through to fully formed productions? We are interested in including multiple perspectives about developing and implementing ecological themes into performance making practices in and beyond the academy.
For this strand we invite proposals for papers or workshops, focusing on ecological performance making. Topics may include but are not limited to the following:
- Developing performance within the academy
- Creative processes that inform ecological performance
- Techniques and processes for teaching environmental and ecological performance practice
- Aesthetic responses to climate change from human and more-than-human perspectives
- Multidisciplinary responses to sustainability themes and practices in and as performance making
- Drawing on post-humanist approaches to inform performance practice and enhance learnings about educational responses to climate change
3. Ecological Storytelling
The global ecological crisis calls for a rethinking of our relationship to the environment and how we tell stories that embrace a post-humanist approach. This theme, ‘Ecological Storytelling’, is interested in how researchers, practitioners, educators and mentors conceptualise the notion of ecological in relation to storytelling across various performing arts disciplines. In what ways can First Nations and other non-hegemonic knowledges (re)shape ecological theory and thinking in/through storytelling? How can adopting ‘climate dramaturgy’ in storytelling processes interrogate relationships between human and more-than-human? We are interested in including diverse perspectives about developing and implementing ecological themes into storytelling processes in and beyond the academy. How might we develop pedagogies that activate multidisciplinary forms of ecological storytelling?
For this strand we invite proposals for papers or workshops, focusing on this theme. Topics may include but are not limited to the following:
- New explorations in ecological storytelling
- Ecological storytelling and posthumanism
- Ecofeminism in/as storytelling
- Decentring anthropocentric storytelling through First Nations knowledges and perspectives
- Storytelling for eco-justice and eco-citizenship
Forms and time frames of the presentations
Presentations can take the format of indoor presentations such as papers, workshops, lecture-performances, multimodal presentations, and co-designed experiments. We also encourage other formats (e.g. roundtables, lecture-demonstrations, workshares, scores, prototypes, durational work) for this type of research practice sharing. Please select the appropriate category for your research and specify the proposed format requirements in the submission form.
In addition, we offer the opportunity to work outdoors in and around Uniarts Helsinki’s Sörnäinen campus. Do note that some open-air areas around the campus buildings may require additional permissions for use that we cannot assist you with, please email us in advance if considering a specific site for your presentation.
- Paper presentations: 30 minutes, including a 10-minute discussion.
- Workshops: 60 minutes, including a 15-minute discussion.
- Workshares, lecture-performances, multimodal presentations: 45 minutes, including a 15-minute discussion.
- Scores, co-designed experiments: 60 minutes, including a 15-minute discussion.
- Outdoors: 90 minutes, including a discussion.
- Prototype
- Durational work
- Roundtables: 90 minutes
Technical requirements
We welcome creative presentations for all formats, but please be mindful of the conference theme and that there is limited technical support available. Indoor spaces have basic AV (screen and sound).
Please note that we do not offer light or sound design for your presentation or any production services. Do consider that there is very limited time for the technical set up during the programme breaks. Please let us know in your submission what your technical needs are, so that we can allocate our resources in the best way possible. We may also contact you before making our final decision.
Spaces available
There are Studios 1 and 3, Theatre Hall, Auditorium 1 and Rehearsal Room 525 reserved for the conference:
- Studio 1
- Studio 3
- Theatre Hall
- Auditorium 1
- Rehearsal room 525 (296 m2, wooden floor)
Uniarts Helsinki guidelines on sustainability
Accessibility
While the conference can only host a limited number of presentations, the conference committee appreciates inclusivity in its evaluation of the proposals. Please indicate your accessibility needs in the submission form. However, do note that due to planned renovations in the Kookos building of the Sörnäinen campus in 2025, we cannot guarantee full access to all spaces on campus at this point.
How to submit a proposal
Presentations can be submitted by individuals or groups. If you have a group presentation, please submit only one application form. The language of the conference is English.
Those interested should send a 2500-character abstract and a short (max. 580-character) biography of each participating contributor (in case of a joint submission), and indicate the format, time frame, and, if applicable, particular space and equipment needed for the presentation by 3 November 2024, at 23:59 (EET, Europe-Helsinki, UTC +2) through the electronic submissions service Lyyti.
You will get a confirmation email after your submission with a link that allows you to edit your proposal until the deadline. Please remember to save your confirmation email!
Acceptance notice
Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by email by 20 February 2025.
Accepted presenters are asked to confirm their participation and submit the completed abstract by 28 February 2025 (EET, Europe-Helsinki, UTC +2).
Conference fee and registration
General registration will open on 2 June and closes 14 August 2025.
All conference fees include participation in all sessions and light lunches between 28–30 August 2025.
- Conference fee for participants and presenters: 190€
- Concession fee (students with valid student ID): 100€
Please note that no free admittance is offered to Uniarts Helsinki faculty, staff, or students.
Notice, if you have a group presentation each member must register and pay separately.
The conference also promotes accessibility by offering a quota of free registrations for participants from the Global South. In the submission form, you can indicate your interest in being included in this quota in a separate section (max. 1000 character). Unfortunately, we cannot pay any travel or accommodation costs.
For more information about CARPA 9 and past conferences, see the CARPA website.
See the proceedings of the former CARPA conferences.
If you have any inquiries about the location, theme or accessibility of the colloquium, please do not hesitate to email teak.carpa@uniarts.fi
We look forward to hearing from you!
Conference committee
Conference committee members of the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland:
- Hanna Järvinen (Chair), Head of the Performing Arts Research Centre (Tutke)
- Liisa Ikonen, Professor, MA Degree Programme in Scenography
- Tomi Humalisto, Professor, MA Degree Programme in Lighting Design
- Tuomas Fränti, Professor, MA Degree Programme in Sound Design
- Raisa Kilpeläinen, Lecturer in Performance Design, MA Degree Programme in Lighting Design
- Riku Saastamoinen, University Lecturer, MA Degree Programme in Theatre Pedagogy
- Eeva Anttila, Professor, MA Degree Programme in Dance Pedagogy
Conference committee members of the Performance + Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) of the Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI) Griffith University, Australia:
- Dr. Tanja Beer, Lecturer in Design, Co-director, Co-director P+ERL
- Dr. Linda Hassall, Program Director, Bachelor Creative Industries, Co-director P+ERL
- Dr Natalie Lazaroo, Lecturer in Education (Drama), Co-director P+ERL