sharing a CfP: colloquium on Urban Arts Festivals in Canada - Nov 21 @ McGill

I like the sounds of this one:

Call for Papers: Urban Arts Festivals in CanadaA one-day colloquium presented by the McGill Institute for the Study of CanadaNovember 21st, 2014
In the 21st century cities have increasingly sought to market themselves toward lucrative creative economies and cultural tourism. Urban festivals have become significant features of this cultural landscape. Festivals pertaining to film, art, music and performance are now entrenched in larger projects of city branding, creative city building and the redevelopment of large urban centres. At the same time, arts festivals and the festivalization of cities have altered traditional models of exhibition, spectatorship and participation in arts communities. Festivals allow for new forms of art and entertainment to reach a broader population, foster creativity and experimentation, and provide venues for the development of new aesthetic forms and creative voices.

The growth of festivals has also challenged local arts communities as festivals provide a large amount of content, often at low admission prices, with which traditional arts providers (e.g. theatres, cinemas) cannot compete. Festivals themselves have begun to evolve into year round cultural institutions offering programming throughout the year. Networks among festivals have become important with co-presentations and collaborative programming becoming increasingly common. The presence of arts festivals affects the city both spatially and temporally in the built environment of festival districts, streetscapes and nightlife and in the rhythmic cycle of yearly events which temporarily occupy the city.

This symposium seeks to create a dialogue on the history, politics, economics and aesthetics of urban arts festivals in Canada. We invite panel presentations of 20 minutes on topics related to urban arts festivals (including film, music, theatre and performance, art and design) and the festivalization of cities.

Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
-the eventfulness of urban festivals
-the space and time of festivals
-festivals and urban space
-festival institutions
-festivals and urban cultural policy
-case studies of particular festivals (e.g. historical, ethnographic)
-festivals and tourism
-the economics of festivals
-festivals and identity politics
-competitive festivals and/or competition between festivals
-sponsorship, private and public
-festival programming
-festivals and cultural industries

The colloquium will be held on the 21st of November 2014 at Thomson House, McGill University.

To propose a presentation at this colloquium, please send an abstract of 300 words and a short bio by Monday September 29th 2014 to Ian Robinson, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Art History & Communication Studies, (ian.robinson@mail.mcgill.ca).
The growth of festivals has also challenged local arts communities as festivals provide a large amount of content, often at low admission prices, with which traditional arts providers (e.g. theatres, cinemas) cannot compete. Festivals themselves have begun to evolve into year round cultural institutions offering programming throughout the year. Networks among festivals have become important with co-presentations and collaborative programming becoming increasingly common. The presence of arts festivals affects the city both spatially and temporally in the built environment of festival districts, streetscapes and nightlife and in the rhythmic cycle of yearly events which temporarily occupy the city.
This symposium seeks to create a dialogue on the history, politics, economics and aesthetics of urban arts festivals in Canada. We invite panel presentations of 20 minutes on topics related to urban arts festivals (including film, music, theatre and performance, art and design) and the festivalization of cities.
Potential topics include (but are not limited to):-the eventfulness of urban festivals-the space and time of festivals-festivals and urban space-festival institutions-festivals and urban cultural policy-case studies of particular festivals (e.g. historical, ethnographic)-festivals and tourism-the economics of festivals-festivals and identity politics-competitive festivals and/or competition between festivals-sponsorship, private and public-festival programming-festivals and cultural industries
The colloquium will be held on the 21st of November 2014 at Thomson House, McGill University.
To propose a presentation at this colloquium, please send an abstract of 300 words and a short bio by Monday September 29th 2014 to Ian Robinson, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Art History & Communication Studies, (ian.robinson@mail.mcgill.ca).