About the Conference

A multicolor graphic with purple origami cranes announcing the Arts + Change Virtual Conference.
Origami art by Alyssa Cai

Activate. Reimagine. Transform.

ARTs + Change is a virtual conference hosted by the University of Rochester’s Institute for the Performing Arts, in partnership with the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center, Department of Art and Art History, International Theatre Program, Create A Space Now, and the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival. This conference provides opportunities for artists of all disciplines, educators, community members, and community organizations to come together to create, share work and ideas, present research, and propose collaborations.

We invite participants to learn from one another while considering how the arts play a pivotal role in promoting justice, equity, and citizenship. Through the sharing of work, participatory workshops, panel discussions, research presentations, curriculum design, guided discussions, and more, participants will come together to listen, to consider, to share, and to act.

While we have encouraged every presenter to make every effort to create safe and brave spaces, we would like to encourage you to attend these sessions in the way that you need to attend. While we know that discomfort allows for growth, we would like to remind you that you have agency to make decisions that keep you safe as we embark on potentially difficult content and discussions. As we are all here to learn and grow, we welcome you to challenge ideas, but ask you to agree to challenge the idea and not the person. We also want to remind you that individual presenter views do not necessarily represent the official ideas or beliefs of the University of Rochester, the Institute for the Performing Arts, or its partners.

 

2026 Sponsors

  • Create A Space Now

  • Department of Art and Art History

  • ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

  • Institute for Performing Arts

  • International Theatre Program

  • Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center