CALL FOR CORRESPONDENTS
Every year, the Urban Sketchers International Symposium is officially documented through the eyes of a small team of dedicated Correspondents who help tell the story of the event as it unfolds. Through reportage drawing and video, Correspondents capture the atmosphere, encounters, workshops, and everyday moments that make the Symposium unforgettable.
You are now invited to apply to become a Correspondent for the 15th International Urban Sketchers Symposium in Toronto, Canada which will take place 4-7 August 2027.
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 an observer and storyteller.
For the Toronto Symposium we are recruiting 4 Correspondents – one Local* Sketch Correspondent, one International Sketch Correspondent, one Local* Video Correspondent and one International Video Correspondent.
*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 Correspondents 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.
The deadline to submit your application is 14 September, 2026 12-noon local time (4pm UTC).
Accommodation & Honorarium
Local Correspondents will receive hotel accommodation for five nights plus a $100 honorarium.
International Correspondents will receive five nights’ lodging and airfare to the Symposium. They will receive a $100 honorarium.
Responsibilities of the Sketch 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: #USkSymposium2027 #USkToronto2027
- 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.
- Work with the other symposium correspondents and symposium committee as a team.
Special responsibilities of Video Correspondents 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 Correspondents 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.
DEADLINE
All applications are due by 14 September 2026 12-noon Toronto time (4pm UTC) – please check your time-zone here.
APPLICATIONS & PROCEDURES - USEFUL INFORMATION
- Applications must be in English using the online submission form and template provided. Applications not following this format or including AI generated artwork will be rejected.
- Each individual proposal will be assessed by members of the Symposium & Communication Committees. Consideration will be given to
- examples of work provided, artistic style or video production
- reportage or videography experience
- your engagement to the USK Community
- your ideas for storytelling as a correspondent
- technical skills such as editing, scanning or uploading to online platforms
- interpersonal skills for interview techniques and community engagement
- After the assessment process, the scoring panel will shortlist their recommendations to the Executive Board.
- Urban Sketchers is a worldwide organization, global diversity of the correspondents will also be considered.
- Selected candidates will be confirmed week commencing 10 November and publicly announced 17 November 2026.
If you would like more information before submitting your proposal, please contact education@urbansketchers.org
2026 Toulouse Correspondents :
Gaël Audoye, Raúl Deamo Fajol & Ivan Blanco Vilar
Please see examples of blog posts contributed by sketch correspondents at previous symposiums:
Gaël Audoye :: Raúl Deamo Fajol :: Ivan Blanco Vilar :: Anna Ziętkiewicz :: Roger Klaassen :: Rapha Pinheiro :: 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
Watch past videos here!
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