CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The 13th Urban Sketchers Symposium will take place in Poznan, Poland on August 20-23, 2025. We are seeking proposals for Workshops, Lectures and Activities/Demos. The final date to submit your proposals is November 17th, 2024 (10:59am UTC). Selected Instructors will be notified week commencing January 20, 2025.
HOW TO PREPARE A SUCCESSFUL WORKSHOP PROPOSAL
- Think about the main goal of your workshop. Can you summarize it in one sentence: “At the end of the workshop my students will be able to …” ?
- Break the main purpose of your workshop into 3-4 steps or smaller learning goals. What do you need to teach, show, and practice during the course of the workshop, so that your students succeed in achieving the main goal of your workshop?
- Think about the right balance between presenting the information, doing short demonstrations, and giving time for exercises so that your students can practice what you are teaching. Create a plan, estimating the approximate number of minutes each segment will take.
- Make sure you leave space and time for feedback and questions. Plan to check in with your students both individually and in a group setting several times throughout the workshop.
- Make sure you don’t set an unrealistic schedule and goals that would not fit into the space of three hours.
- Think about how you can enable your students to succeed in the workshop– leaving them with a clear sense of what they learned and desire to continue to draw and practice.
Learn more here about how to prepare a successful workshop proposal.
SOME DETAILS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE DRAFTING YOUR PROPOSAL:
You can propose a Workshop 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. Use the list of suggested locations . These locations show walking distance from the main Symposium hub. - All participants will be advised to gather with their Instructors at the Meeting place, before setting out to Workshop 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.
- Keep in mind the weather: In August in Poland average temperatures can be 23.5C (75F). Sunrise is around 6AM and sunset will be around 8PM.
- You may propose multiple Workshops, Lectures and Activities. However, only one of your proposals in each category can be picked.
- You will be notified week commencing 20 January 2025 whether your proposal was selected.
- All of the programming (workshops, demos, lectures, and activities) will be presented in English.
Workshops
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 have 3-5 learning goals and clear structure planned ahead. That means having dedicated time for explanations, exercises and feedback built into their workshop. They are expected to check in with their students during practice time and have a group feedback session at the end.
- Duration and Frequency: All workshops will be 3 hours and taught three (3) times over the course of the Symposium.
- If you are chosen as an instructor you will be asked to present a one-time demo in addition to teaching a workshop. A demo doesn’t have to be on the same topic as the workshop.
- Compensation: Symposium instructors will receive a free registration for the Symposium, free travel and accommodation and will be able to attend one free workshop taught by their colleagues. They will receive an honorarium of USD$100. Local instructors will receive $500 or accommodations.
- We are hoping to increase the number of new and local instructors. If you have not previously taught at a Symposium, and you have teaching experience, we want to hear from you.
Lectures
Lectures allow you to share your own work, research, urban sketching stories, the work of other sketchers, sketching history, or another topic of interest to fellow sketchers. Lectures will be presented indoors and a slide projector will be provided. We will ask for your consent for filming your lecture, so that we can share it on USk platforms.
- Duration and Frequency: 20 mins Lecture presentation, 10mins Q&A session and will only be conducted once.
- Open to all interested participants
- Compensation: If your lecture proposal is selected, you will be entitled to a free symposium registration (staff pass) which includes ONE 1 free demo/activity. You will also receive an honorarium of USD$50 .
Activities and Demos
Leading a Demo. Let the participants watch you urban sketch over your shoulder. You can also show them how to use a particular tool or technique, how to build a sketchbook or a portable tool kit.
Activity is a hands-on presentation, where participants do something, not just watch. Do you have a trick or a cool urban sketching idea that you want to show and try together?
We will ask for your consent for filming your presentation, so that we can share this content on USk platforms.
- Duration and Frequency: 40-50 mins presentation, 10mins Q&A session and will only be conducted once.
- Maximum of 15 participants
- If you are submitting a workshop proposal: If your workshop proposal is selected you will be asked to do a demo as part of your instructor responsibilities.
- Compensation: If your demo/activity proposal is selected, you will be entitled to free symposium registration (staff pass) which includes ONE (1) free workshop. You will also receive an honorarium of USD$100 .
DEADLINE
All proposals are due by Sunday November 17th, 2024 (10:59 am UTC)
APPLICATIONS & PROCEDURES - USEFUL INFORMATION
- Applicants must be in English using the online submission form and template provided. Proposals not following this format will be rejected.
- Each individual proposal will be assessed by at least 3 members of the Education Committee. For workshop proposals, consideration will be given to
- examples of work provided (exercise examples & your own work)
- relevant teaching experience and your engagement to the USK Community
- specific learning goals
- clear description of your teaching process and the breakdown of the workshop schedule
- After the assessment process, the Education Committee will shortlist their recommendations to the Symposium Committee.
- The Symposium Committee will select a final program for Poznan that aims to include
- 20% new instructors, creating a unique opportunity for aspiring educators to showcase their knowledge and passion
- a wide range of subjects and styles, using different techniques and materials, showcasing the incredible diversity and skill within the international USK community
- a balance of instructors from all around the world
If you would like more information before submitting your proposal, please contact education@urbansketchers.org
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