Open Call for Symposium Correspondents

 

Dear Urban Sketchers,

 You are invited to apply to become a correspondent for the 13th International Urban Sketchers Symposium in Poznan, Poland which will take place on 20-23 August 2025

All correspondents will serve on the symposium correspondent team and receive an Open Pass, which allows access to all events, including workshops and demos, as a spectator. 

 This year we are recruiting one Local*, one International Sketch Correspondent, and one Video Correspondent (either local or international)

*Local Correspondents have to be a current local resident of the host country and will be relied upon for help and guidance to the city by other volunteers.  The Local Correspondent will serve as a guide to the rest of the team by being familiar with their knowledge of the city layout, sites of interest, and local customs.

 

Local Sketch Correspondent will receive an honorarium in the amount of four nights’ lodging or $500 honorarium. 

International Sketch Correspondent will receive four nights’ lodging and airfare to the Symposium

Local Video Correspondent will receive four nights’ lodging (or $500 honorarium) 

International Video Correspondent will receive four nights’ lodging and airfare to the Symposium

 

Responsibilities of the Sketching Correspondents must include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Sketch the daily activities during the four days of the Symposium. These activities could include pre-symposium set-up, workshops, demos, lectures, sketch walks and informal meals with other Sketchers. The ability to quickly capture people and their activities is essential. (Registration and participation in specific workshops and demos would not be possible.) 
  • Establishing a sense of place through the sketches by bringing attention to particular points of interest that showcase the host city. 
  • Post sketches and a brief written article each day on the global USk blog. A reportage-style of sketching and writing is encouraged. Correspondents are also encouraged to share on social media (giving priority to the website) using the symposium hashtag: #USkSymposium2025 #USkPoznan2025
  • Have the technical ability and equipment to support the above task, such as a camera and laptop or other means to upload images and text.
  • Able to write comfortably in English.
  • Conversational-level Polish fluency is welcome but not required; we encourage applications from emigrants, heritage speakers, and international reporters alike.
  • Work with the other symposium correspondents and symposium committee as a team.

 

Special responsibilities of a Video Correspondent include the following:

  • Capture the daily activities during the four days of the Symposium. These activities could include pre-symposium set-up, workshops, demos, lectures, sketch walks and informal meals with other Sketchers. The ability to quickly capture people and their activities is essential. (Registration and participation in specific workshops and demos would not be possible.) 
  • Show the spirit of the symposium in video format, e.g. bonding between  participants, positive public interaction, informal meals, drink ‘n’ draw, opening and closing receptions.
  • Post a daily video summary on USk’s YouTube channel. This will be reposted later by USk’s Social Media team on other channels. 
  • Recreate “the feeling of being at the symposium” and showcase the host city and its unique location for the USk community who will be watching from afar. 

 

The Video Correspondent will also require the following technical skills:

  • Skills in video editing include selecting, cutting, adding transitions, music, text, and titles, and subtitles as needed.
  • Produce content to be published on YouTube that can easily be adapted for use on other online platforms i.e. Facebook, Instagram 
  • Have the technical equipment to support the above tasks, such as a phone with a video camera, video camera, microphone, and a laptop, as well as software for video editing and uploading.
  • Fluency with  publishing video materials produced either edited or  ‘on the fly’ through Live Streams. 

 

 

Please see examples of blog posts contributed by sketch correspondents at previous symposiums:

Simonetta Capecchi ::  Teoh Yi Chie’s, aka Parka ::  Tony McNeight  ::   Marina Grechanik :: Rita Sabler :: Paulo Mendes :: Wes Douglas :: Beliza Mendes :: Vincent Desplanche :: Kumi Matsukawa :: Javier de Blas :: Liz Ackerley :: Tina Koyama :: Suhita Shirodkar :: Murray Dewhurst :: Maria Regina Tuazon :: Gabi Campanario

 

 

Application process

Visit our Google form here to download a copy of the Application template.  Complete and return your application using the form provided by midnight UTC Sunday 2 March 2025(All applications must be submitted in English).

 

Selection process

The Symposium planning team and Executive Board will evaluate applications based on how well candidates meet the stated requirements. Because Urban Sketchers is a worldwide organization, global diversity of the correspondents will also be considered. Selected candidates will be announced by the end of March 2025. 

 

Thank you for your interest!

 

— USk Executive Board

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