Open Call for Webinar Proposals

The AICA Forum Commitee invites proposals from AICA members for webinars they would like to present in 2027. This initiative aims to foster timely, engaging, and innovative conversations in the field of Contemporary Art Criticism and related disciplines.

We welcome proposals that address emerging topics, revisit critical questions, or bring new perspectives to ongoing scholarly, curatorial, and artistic conversations. Webinars may take the form of panels, roundtables, interviews, or other creative formats.

Proposal Guidelines

Applicants are invited to submit the following materials:

  • A brief proposal (500 words) outlining the theme, central questions, and relevance of the webinar

  • A proposed title

  • A list of maximum 4 invited participants (including speakers and/or respondents) and a moderator (normally one of the organisers or one of the Forum Committee members) with brief bios.

  • A description of the format (e.g., panel, roundtable, conversation)

  • Preferred timing within the year – we have two options:  1) Before summer (ie within 3 months of acceptance) and 2) in the second half of the year (sometime before the end of November 2027)

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

  • Relevance to current conversations in the field

  • Clarity and strength of the central theme

  • Feasibility of the proposed format

  • Submitter must be an active AICA Member or a National AICA section. 

What AICA Forum Committee Provides

Selected proposals will receive:

  • Logistical and technical support for hosting the webinar

  • Promotion through AICA’s communication channels

  • An honorarium for each invited participant (no more than 4 recipients total)

  • The possibility of translation if necessary 

Timeline

  • Proposal Deadline: January 20th 2027

  • Notification of Acceptance: February 20th 2027

  • Webinar Window: 1) Before Summer ( ie. within 3 months of the Notification of Acceptance).  2) late 2027 (at the latest November 2027).

Selected applications will also be required to submit project updates to the AICA Forum Committee and/or attend some meetings if necessary to discuss themes and progress.  Meetings or reports will be set at at key stages leading up to the webinar to ensure continued engagement, accountability, and overall quality of the program. 

Submission Instructions

Please submit proposals, no later than 20 January 2027, as a single PDF to karenv@uj.ac.za with the subject line: AICA Webinar Proposal 2027. 

For any questions or issues, please email Karen von Veh at karenv@uj.ac.za