Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals –
RNAC 2025
Positioned at the crossroads of tradition and possibility, the Rex Nettleford Arts Conference (RNAC) 2025 heralds a cultural awakening as the Edna Manley College approaches its golden jubilee as the Caribbean’s premier tertiary arts institution. Embracing Professor Rex Nettleford’s transformative philosophy of “Inward Stretch, Outward Reach,” we recognise culture not as a static subject for scholarly contemplation but as a living, breathing, dynamic force that simultaneously preserves, disrupts, and reimagines our collective experience.
At this critical juncture marked by seismic geopolitical shifts, Caribbean artistic expressions offer vital perspectives that illuminate pathways through uncertainty while contributing to a more inclusive global humanism. The Caribbean now stands at the center of worldwide conversations on reparative justice and humanistic values, yet faces unprecedented challenges from artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies that question the very artistic intelligence that has historically fueled Caribbean cultural identity and resilience. RNAC 2025 responds by convening diverse voices—artists, cultural practitioners, scholars, researchers, policy makers and activists—to transcend theoretical boundaries and engage in transformative dialogue about our shared future.
This convergence simultaneously honours our rich cultural inheritance while boldly charting new artistic territories. By deepening our connection to indigenous knowledge systems while fearlessly engaging with global conversations, we demonstrate how Caribbean arts and humanities can shape more inclusive, resilient societies. The conference provides a platform for diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to contemporary challenges through a distinctly Caribbean lens, ultimately enriching a global humanism centered on care, respect, and collective well-being.
In the spirit of Nettleford’s legacy, we invite proposals that actively make culture rather than merely discuss it—work that deepens our connection to our roots while extending our influence in reshaping global humanistic values. Through five interconnected thematic pathways, we will explore the multifaceted dimensions of Caribbean artistic intelligence and its vital role in our rapidly changing world:
SUB-THEMES
Inward Stretch: Cultural Identity and Artistic Intelligence
Outward Reach: Caribbean Arts in Global Dialogue
Reimagining Humanism Through Caribbean Artistic Praxis
Artistic Intelligence in the Digital Age
Decolonising Approaches to Arts and Culture
- Caribbean artistic intelligence as cultural resistance and survival
- Arts in preserving and evolving indigenous and diasporic knowledge
- Linguistic reclamation and performative expressions of Caribbean identity
- Caribbean contributions to reimagining global humanistic values
- South-South cultural dialogues through artistic expression
- Artistic responses to shifting geopolitical dynamics
- Caribbean arts as counterpoint to technological determinism
- Artistic approaches to environmental, economic, and social justice
- Performance and visual arts as vehicles for new humanistic frameworks
- Navigating the tension between artistic and artificial intelligence
- Preserving Caribbean cultural sovereignty in digital environments
- Creative approaches to combating disinformation and digital colonisation
- Caribbean methodologies for valuing indigenous, local, and marginalised knowledge systems
- Artistic responses to historical injustices and reparative frameworks through creative practice
- Caribbean arts as catalysts for environmental, social, and economic sustainability
JOIN THE MOVEMENT. SEND YOUR PROPOSALS NOW!
As the EMCVPA approaches 50 years, your contribution will help us stretch inward to our cultural roots while boldly reaching outward to reshape global conversations on arts, culture, and humanism. This is not just a conference—it’s a declaration of Caribbean creative futures. Your voice, your art, your research is essential to this pivotal conversation. Submit your proposal by the deadline and become part of a revolutionary gathering that honours Nettleford’s legacy while forging new pathways for Caribbean artistic expression.
Important Dates
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Call Opens: June 2025
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Submission Deadline: September 8, 2025
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Notification of Acceptance: September 22, 2025
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Conference Dates: October 15–17, 2025
Submission Process
- Online portal for uploading proposals (see linked form)
- Confirmation e-mail upon submission
- Queries can be directed to the Conference Administrative Team at: emcartsconference@emc.edu.jm
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)
Are student submissions welcomed?
Definitely. We have received some but the deadline has now passed.
Will there be publication opportunities?
Certainly. The College’s Jonkonnu Journal was developed for this purpose. Conference presenters will be invited to expand their work into full scholarly articles for the Journal.
Register Now...
...to attend the 8th Biennial Rex Nettleford Arts Conference (RNAC 2025!
Commune with fellow cultural enthusiasts and come experience the rich expressions of local, regional and global artists, performers, art educators, policymakers, researchers, arts practitioners and more!