The Creative School hosts major conferences and Biennale this spring

The conferences include the Media Architecture Biennale among others, covering critical topics on diversity, privilege and accessibility

By: The Creative School Staff

May 09, 2023

While the academic year is coming to an end, The Creative School community can look forward to a variety of conferences upcoming in the spring. The conferences, organized by faculty and staff from Interior Design, Journalism, Professional Communication and RTA Media, will explore critical issues such as diversity, accessibility, and the future of industries post-pandemic.

The Creative School will be opening its doors to scholars and professionals from various disciplines in Canada and worldwide to come together to explore critical issues related to their fields. These conferences are an excellent opportunity to foster transdisciplinary collaboration and contribute to the development of innovative and practical solutions to societal problems.

The Rogers Communications Centre at TMU from the outside

Intense Interiors Symposium - May 6 to 7

The symposium’s theme of intense interiors built on recent discourse about pandemic interiors and environment, accessibility, and safety. In a 2-day event, the Intense Interiors symposium’s participants utilized a cinematic lens as a vehicle to expand and explore the uncanny relevance of the noted films (Safe, Blindness and Soylent Green). David Lewis, Dean of Parsons School of Design, and David Theodore, Chair of School of Architecture at McGill University were in attendance as keynote speakers. The symposium was co-chaired by Interior Design Professor Lorella Di Cintio alongside Vahid Vahdat from Washington State University. The event took place in-person on May 6 and 7, along with a complementary exhibition at the School of Interior Design.

Journalistic Role Performance Project - May 24

Coming out of the School of Journalism and organized by Professor Nicole Blanchett, the JRP conference will host researchers and academics from renowned institutions worldwide, including those from the UK, Mexico, Tokyo, Iceland and Germany. The conference, titled 'Between Ideals and Practices' will host two keynote speeches and panels on topics from how the pandemic changed journalism to positionality, power and privileges within journalism. The conference is taking place on May 24 in the Rogers Communications Centre. JRP Canada is a smaller initiative of the International Journalistic Role Performance project. Register for the JRP Canada Conference here (external link) .

Media Architecture Biennale - June 14 to 15 online and June 21 to 23 in-person

The Media Architecture Biennale is a week-long event featuring keynotes, workshops, symposia, panels, awards, and exhibitions. Led by Professional Communication Professor Dave Colangelo, the event aims to offer a platform for communities of research and practice concerned with media and the built environment. MAB23 will bring together students, academics, and professionals from architecture, art, design, urban planning, media and communication, urban informatics, and public policy to share new ideas and shape this evolving field. The conference is taking place online June 14 to 15 and in-person June 21 to 23 at TMU. Register for the Media Architecture Biennale here (external link) .

International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations - June 22 to 23

The Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations Research Network is coming to TMU by co-chairs and RTA Media Professors Joseph Recupero and Laurel Walzak. The conference brings together a shared interest in human differences and diversity, and their varied manifestations in organizations, communities, and nations. The conference attracts participants from all over the world annually. This year's theme is 'Whose Accountability Revolution? Priorities, Incentive Structures, Organization Cultures.' Within this theme, the conference will focus on topics including identity and belonging, education and learning in worlds of differences, organizational diversity and community diversity and governance. The conference is taking place in-person on June 22 to 23 at TMU. Register for the International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations here (external link) .