Women's Perspectives in Arts Administration
Transformation in Arts Administration Practice and Scholarship
2025 Symposium
14 February 2025, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY
The Women's Perspectives in Arts Administration Symposium is a space for critical dialogue between practitioners and scholars in the field, as we navigate the changing world of arts administration, management, and leadership. Our theme this year, Transformation in Arts Administration Practice and Scholarship, emphasizes the innovative approaches, emerging leadership practices, and diverse perspectives to address the contemporary challenges and opportunities facing our field.
The 2025 symposium encourages contributions that focus on and/or are geared towards enhancing the professional practices of women across the field of arts administration and across arts, cultural, and creative disciplines. The symposium committee welcomes submissions with the symposium streams and actively seeks contributions from a diverse range of voices representing the contemporary and future development of arts administration. Our aim is to amplify awareness and illuminate opportunities for emerging and established arts administration practitioners and scholars to engage in discussions and expand their knowledge about women’s transformative experiences in the field of arts administration.
Call for Papers
The symposium committee invites submissions within the symposium streams and encourages submissions from a diverse range of voices representing our historical, contemporary, and future field development of arts administration. Our aim is to increase awareness and opportunities for emerging and established scholars to discuss and learn about women’s contributions in arts administration scholarship.
Timeline
25 Sep Call for Proposals Opens
20 Oct Call for Proposals Closes*
*Deadline extended to 01 Nov!
29 Oct Registration Opens
14 Feb Symposium
Symposium Streams
Transforming the Profession
This stream focuses on the foundational and pioneering transformations occurring within the profession of arts administration.
Emergent Leadership Practices
This stream examines the evolving nature of leadership practices and approaches in arts administration.
Collaborating Across Diverse Perspectives
This stream highlights the significance of collaborating across diverse perspectives in the field of arts administration.
Innovative Approaches in Arts Administration
This stream focuses on emerging concepts, novel ideas, and new practices and strategies within the field of the arts administration.
Open Stream
This stream includes abstract proposals not otherwise related to the above streams, but still within the scope of the symposium theme
Submission Guidelines
Submissions from practitioners, working professionals, emerging scholars (undergraduate, graduate, and beyond), early career scholars, mid-career scholars, and established scholars are highly encouraged. Please use the form to submit a 250-word abstract proposal to the symposium committee. A maximum of one submission per person or small group will be considered. The deadline for submissions has been extended to November 1, 2024.
Symposium Planning Committee
Jaleesa Wells, PhD
Director of Certificates in Creative Social Entrepreneurship
University of Kentucky
Rachel Shane, PhD
Professor, Chair
Arts Administration
University of Kentucky
Heather McDonald, PhD
Director of the Music Industry Concentration
College of Charleston
Bex Ferrell, PhD
Assistant Professor Arts Management
College of Charleston
Exciting Opportunity to Attend Two Conferences in One Location!
Women's Perspectives in Arts Administration (WPAA) and the Society for Arts Leadership Educators (SALE) conference are joining forces for an unparalleled academic gathering. Hosted by the University of Kentucky's Department of Arts Administration, this alliance provides a platform for scholars and practitioners to participate in two separate yet harmonious events.
We encourage you to submit a proposal to both conferences! Just make sure each submission is unique.
Join Us in February!
Women's Perspectives in Arts Administration is a symposium that highlights the work, research, and experiences of women-identifying scholars and practitioners in the arts administration field. While our primary presenters are women-identifying, we warmly welcome people of all genders to attend, participate in sessions, and join in the discussions. The symposium fosters an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and where all attendees can engage in meaningful dialogue about the evolving role of women in arts administration. Everyone is encouraged to contribute, learn, and collaborate.
