Play, Power & Participation Symposium
Photo credit © Anne Tetzlaff
A one day symposium exploring cocreation, collaboration, and power sharing in participatory arts.
Play, Power & Participation brings together artists, cultural practitioners, freelancers, producers, community partners, and organisations committed to socially engaged practice. The symposium is part of Orleans House Gallery’s Play & Imagine programme and shares learning emerging from the artist–community led exhibition All The Things.
About the Day
Throughout the day we will explore the question: What is true cocreation? Through provocations, panel discussions, workshops, and group reflections, we’ll explore how power sits between communities, artists, and institutions, and what cultural conditions allow meaningful collaboration to flourish.
The Programme
Welcome & Opening: Setting the context for Play & Imagine
Lightning Provocations: Artist and participants explore their experiences in making All The Things
Panel Discussion – Who Holds the Power? Panel to be confirmed
Lunch & Exhibition Time
Interactive Workshops: Choose from artist-led practical sessions
Collective Reflection: A participant-led conversation for networking, knowledge exchange and reflections
Closing Remarks & Next Steps
Who Should Attend
- Freelance artists and practitioners
- Engagement & learning teams
- Cultural and heritage organisations
- Community partners
- Funders and commissioners
- Early career artists exploring social or participatory practice
Call for Workshop Proposals
We are inviting proposals for 45minute interactive sessions that offer honest insight, practical tools, or reflective methods that strengthen collaborative and participatory arts practice. Workshops can be in any format: practical, reflective, participatory, or presentation style.
We particularly welcome contributions that explore:
- Different types of cocreation and collaborative practice
- Values based and ethical approaches
- Partnership building and practical tools
- Supporting artists and participants
- Translating collaborative work into public programmes or exhibitions
- Power sharing between artists, communities, and organisations
- Innovative approaches to community participation
Deadline for workshop proposals:
27 April
Submit proposals to:
Tickets
Tickets are available via TicketSource.