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1 – 3 October 2026

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

The Faculty of Arts and Design at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), in collaboration with the South African Journal of Art History (SAJAH) and the City of Tshwane (CoT), proudly announces the Artivism Conference 2026, Reimagining Futures, Arts, Design & Artivism in Global Transformation.

The term artivism is used in many creative disciplines to describe how art and design serve as tools for social and political change. It often refers to the complex relationships between creative practice and activism, with practitioners extending these ideas to challenge traditional distinctions between aesthetic work and political action.


Contemporary artists and designers are increasingly combining activism with creative practice, making artivism a process of social engagement rather than fixed cultural production. In the context of the Global South, artivism demonstrates how creative practice can address both colonial legacies and contemporary challenges, generating new approaches to community engagement and social change.


Artivism has gained traction in the creative disciplines, particularly in relation to decolonial practice, digital activism, and community-led interventions. The rise of digital technologies has foregrounded artivism as a site of complex relationships, where creative practice and political action are in constant negotiation.


The 2026 conference, building on the 2024 conference, now aims to explore these relationships and connections to reveal the richness of contemporary artivism. In the spirit of creative curiosity, we ask that papers, demonstrations, displays, performances, panel discussions focus on questions and provocations while also guiding the way forward. We welcome practice-based research and hope that the conference will be a platform for creative knowledge exchange.

Hosted by the Faculty of Arts & Design, TUT

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Explore Key

Conference Themes

Climate justice and environmental awareness through creative practice

Pedagogical methods for artivism in higher education

AI, ethics, and creative resistance

Digital artivism: technology, resistance, and new audiences

Decolonial futures: Art, identity, and cultural reconquest

Gender justice and intersectional approaches in artivism

Healing, trauma, and reconciliation through art and design

Urban interventions and community empowerment

Other novel research and experimental approaches to artivism

Types of Contributions

Calls for Participation

CALL FOR PEER-REVIEWERS

To ensure the success of Artivism 2026: Reimagining Futures International Conference, we call for peer reviewers with expertise that align with the 2026 conference theme, Art, Design & Activism in Global Transformations. Your involvement as a peer reviewer would be invaluable. If you are interested in this opportunity, we kindly request that you complete the application form using the link below. Your positive participation will play a role in shaping the Artivism 2026: Reimagining Futures International Conference. We look forward to your participation.
 

  • Surname, Name, Title/Pronoun

  • Email address

  • Institutional affiliation

  • Area of specialisation

  • Curriculum Vitae

CONFERENCE SESSION CHAIRS

To ensure the success of Artivism 2026: Reimagining Futures International Conference, we call for session chairs with expertise that align with the 2026 conference theme, Art, Design & Activism in Global Transformations. Your
involvement as a session chair would be invaluable. If you are interested in this opportunity, we kindly request that
you complete the application form using the link below. Your positive participation will play a role in presenting a successful Artivism 2026: Reimagining Futures International Conference. We look forward to your participation.


Basic Expectations of Session Chairs
• Familiarise yourself with the content of the papers and/or performances scheduled for your session.
• Introduce the presenters or performers.
• Prepare a few thoughtful questions to stimulate discussion.
• Facilitate the session, ensuring it runs smoothly and on time.
• Provide a brief written summary of the session highlights, which will be included in the day’s concluding
remarks.

 

  • Surname, Name, Title/Pronoun

  • Email address

  • Institutional affiliation

  • Area of specialisation

  • Abbreviated biography (not more than 200 words)

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IMPORTANT DATES OF THE CONFERENCE

31 March 2026

Submission Deadline

28 February 2026

Notification of Acceptance

30 June 2026

Final Submission of Materials for Publicity and Programme

21 September 2026

Presentation Submission

1 – 3 October 2026

Conference Dates

ARTICLE PUBLICATION

IMPORTANT: Those interested in publishing in the SAJAH special edition are to submit their completed articles (approximately 4 000 – 7 000 words) by 30 June 2026 to be peer reviewed.

31 July 2026

30 September 2026

30 October 2026

Submission of Articles

Notification of Acceptance of Article 

Peer review of article & corrections

Completed article submission for publication 

30 June 2026

Expected Publication

November/December 2026

REGISTRATION

R6 500.00

R7 500.00

Early Bird Registration (until 29 May 2026)

Full Registration (from 1 June - 31 August 2025)

R3 500.00

R4 000.00

Daily Registration

Registered Students (proof of registration to be submitted) 

Proof of payments to be received by 31 August to confirm registration.

BANKING DETAILS

BANK:  ABSA 

BRANCH: Quagga Shopping Centre 

BRANCH CODE: 32 32 45 

ACCOUNT HOLDER:  Tshwane University of Technology 

ACCOUNT TYPE:  Cheque 

ACCOUNT NUMBER:  004 00 000 03 

SWIFT CODE:  ABSAZAJJCPT 

REFERENCE:  Please quote F147 followed by delegate surname and initials

 

TO REQUEST AN INVOICE TO SECURE PAYMENT

Please contact Busi Mashaba at MashabaBM@tut.ac.za

 

PROOF OF PAYMENT

Please forward proof of payment to Busi Mashaba at MashabaBM@tut.ac.za

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MORE ABOUT YOUR HOST

The Faculty of Arts & Design boasts five departments, namely Fashion Design, Fine & Studio Arts, Interior Design, Performing Arts and Visual Communication which offer the following twelve programmes:  Fashion Design & Technology; Fine & Applied Arts; Jewellery Design and Manufacture; Interior Design; Higher Certificate in Music; Dance; Music (Jazz & Opera); Theatre Arts & Design with a Technical Theatre & Design or Theatre Arts & Performance elective; Commercial Photography; Integrated Communication Design and Motion Picture Production. Our programmes equip students with the knowledge and creativity needed to build meaningful careers and to generate new opportunities as future employers in global contexts.


All programmes have career-focused progression possibilities – from Higher Certificate and Diplomas at entry-level, to Advanced Diplomas, Postgraduate Diplomas, Master’s and Doctoral degrees. The Higher Certificate offers basic practical skills and knowledge in a particular discipline, while our Diploma programmes lay solid foundations for you to enter the world of work confidently and competently. The Advanced Diplomas give you a deeper understanding of a specific area of specialisation in your discipline. The Postgraduate Diplomas prepare you for the professional world, academia and provide entry to a Master’s degree and later Doctoral studies.
 
Entrepreneurship, Critical Thinking, Decolonisation and the Africanisation of education in the creative industries are key and central aims of our programmes. Localised and context-specific knowledge systems are embedded in every programme and provide this purposeful focus on visual art, design, dance, film, music, photography, theatre and performance. It is worth noting that TUT programmes aim to keep abreast with international trends and global influences, thereby ensuring success.

MEET OUR PARTNERS

sajah_logo.png

South African Journal of Art History

An accredited journal for the Visual Arts and Architecture

Sponsored by the Art Historical Work Group of South Africa

A JOURNAL FOR THE VISUAL ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE

The South African Journal of Art History is an accredited, peer reviewed journal that publishes scholarly articles on the following subjects:

Art and architectural history
Art and architectural theory
Aesthetics and philosophy of art 
Visual culture
Art and the environment
Film and photography
History of craft
History of design

www.sajournalofarthistory.org.za

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The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (as partner)
The City of Tshwane (CoT) Metropolitan Municipality is classified as a Category A municipality situated in the Gauteng Province that moves progressively towards the social and economic upliftment of local communities and ensures universal access to essential services that are affordable to all. Key strategic priorities are to enhance City safety, security and emergency services and be a caring City that supports the vulnerable and provides social relief.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Accepted applications to attend the Artivism Conference are, in every case, subject to these terms and conditions: 

 

Payment terms:  Payment is due in full upon completing and returning this registration form. We advise early registration and payment by bank transfer/payment to avoid disappointment. Admission to the Conference will be refused if payment has not been received. 

 

Delegate substitution:  Provided the fee has been paid in full within the time-frame as per our terms and conditions, substitutions at no extra charge can be made up to 15 working days before the start of the Conference. Send notification for any such changes in writing for the attention of the Conference Committee at FADArtivism26@tut.ac.za

Subject: Artivism Conference Substitute 

 

Delegates cancellation:  Must be received in writing and must be addressed to the Conference Committee at FADArtivism26@tut.ac.za

Subject line:  Artivism Conference Cancellation. 

Cancellation received 30 working days before the symposium start date entitles the cancelling delegate to a 50% credit on the amount. Any cancellation received less than 30 working days before the Symposium does not entitle the cancelling delegate to any refund, and the full fee must be paid. 

 

Non-attendance without written cancellation is treated as a cancellation with no entitlement to any refund. However, the full fee must be paid where payment has not been made yet. 

 

Speaker changes:  Occasionally, it is necessary for reasons beyond our control to alter the programme's content and timing or the speakers.   

 

Views of speakers:  Views of speakers/artists at the Symposium are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Tshwane University of Technology or its employees. 

 

Photographs/video recordings:  Please note photographs and video footage will be taken throughout the Symposium.  These will be used by TUT for marketing and publicity in our publications and on our website, social media and/or possible in 3rd party publications.  

 

INDEMNITY: 

The Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology and partners, are absolved from and indemnified against any loss or damages as a result of substitution, alteration or cancellation/postponement of the Symposium arising from any cause whatsoever, including, without limitations, any fortuitous event, Act of God, unforeseen occurrence or any other event that renders performance of the Symposium impracticable or impossible. 

 

The Tshwane University of Technology or staff will not be liable for any injuries, damages or loss of any nature to the visitors or loss of any property or articles. 

 

Warranty of authority:  The signatory warrants that he/she has the authority to sign this application and agrees to be personally liable to the Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology, for payments falling due pursuant thereto should such warranty be breached. 

 

Personal information: By completing this form you give the University consent to process your personal information.  The University undertakes to process your personal information for the purpose of this Conference and in line with the requirements of the Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013. 

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