International Symposium Chicago 2017 – Call for Programming

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The 8th Urban Sketchers Symposium is in Chicago July 26-29, 2017. We are seeking proposals for Workshops, Demonstrations, and Lectures by Saturday, December 31, 2016 (11:59 p.m. GMT). Selected proposals will be announced in January. (You can see programming for the 2016 Symposium here and 2015 here)

Workshops are presented as a more formal educational experience with a smaller group (a maximum of 15 participants), allowing for personal interaction with students. Instructors are expected to do a short demonstration, have one-on-one interaction with participants, and check on them during their exercises.

• Duration and Frequency: All workshops will be 3 hours and taught three times over the course of the Symposium
• Capacity: Focused instruction for up to 15 participants in each session. If 2 instructors apply together the number of participants will be up to 25.
• Compensation: If your proposal is selected, you receive free registration for the Symposium, travel and hotel. Local instructors who will not need to travel will receive an honorarium.

We are also seeking sketchers to present demonstrations of sketching technique or materials, and present lectures related to sketching.

Demonstrations give you the opportunity to share a particular technique or approach with a group. One-on-one teaching is also not expected for demonstrations.

• Duration and Frequency: Demos are scheduled for 30 minutes and will repeat at least twice throughout the Symposium.
• Capacity: 30 participants or less.
• Compensation: If your proposal is selected, you will receive free registration for the Symposium and an honorarium of US$250.00.

Lectures allow for you to share your own work, the work of other sketchers, sketching history, or another topic of interest or concern to fellow sketchers. A projector will be provided.   Your consent will be asked when you submit proposals regarding the filming of lecture sessions and that they may be shared online on USk platforms.

• Duration and Frequency: Lectures are scheduled for 25 minutes and will only be conducted once.
• Capacity: All interested participants are welcome. 
• Compensation: If your proposal is selected, you will receive free registration for the Symposium and an honorarium of US$250.00.

We are aiming to increase the number of new and local instructors. If you have not previously taught at the Symposium, and you have teaching experience, we want to hear from you! For the previous years, we have already gotten a good mix of new and of local Demo and Lecture leaders, and aim to continue.

SOME DETAILS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE DRAFTING YOUR PROPOSAL: 

• You can propose a Workshop or Demo for a specific spot or a general location. We recommend you to get to know the possible locations before you create your proposal, in order to match your idea with the city’s environment.
• Photos of suggested locations
• Map of suggested locations

• Workshop locations are subject to change and the organizers reserve the right to make the best arrangements and combinations of Workshops/Demos and locations.
• All participants will be advised to meet at one place. Workshop locations will not be publicly announced. 
• Learn more about how to prepare a successful workshop proposal.
• Keep in mind the weather: The average temperature in July is 20°C/65°F, with higher afternoon temperatures (up to 29°C/84°F), and lower evening temperatures (16°C/61°F). July is warmer than usual and has medium risks for rain. 
• You may propose multiple Workshops/Demos/Lectures.
• All instructors and leaders will receive a list of participants

The official language of the Symposium is English.

HOW TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS

All proposals must be emailed to symposium@urbansketchers.org .

If you are proposing a Workshop, you must use this form and include sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).

If you are proposing a Demo or Lecture, you must use this form and include sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).

DEADLINE

All proposals are due by Saturday, December 31, 2016 (11:59 p.m. GMT).