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PNCA’s Annual Symposium

Explore a creative and cultural theme about the role of art in society alongside professionals from every corner of the art world.

Symposium graphic

Engage in Cultural Discussion

PNCA’s annual Symposium invites artists, scholars, and members of the community to come together and engage in a shared passion for art and scholarship. This multi-day event features conversations, lectures, workshops, and exhibits centered around a theme that explores the impact of art on society. 

The symposium is an opportunity to foster connections between PNCA students and the Portland community. It is free and open to the public, bringing together a variety of perspectives and experiences. This program highlights PNCA’s focus on using creative work and critical inquiry to address real-world issues and shape the future. 

Beyond Boundaries: Visions of Ecological Futures

2025 PNCA Symposium
October 2–4, 2025
Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) at Willamette University
511 NW Broadway, Portland, Oregon


We invite submissions for individual papers for the 2025 PNCA Symposium, Beyond Boundaries: Visions of Ecological Futures, a three-day convening of critical and creative voices engaging ecological thought across disciplines and communities. This symposium explores the intersections of environment, art, activism, pedagogy, and identity—with a focus on how ecological futures are imagined, embodied, and enacted through diverse cultural practices and positionalities.

All events are free and open to the public.

Call for Proposals

Past Symposium themes have included:

  • Trans* Geographies (2024)
  • Art & Social Consciousness (2023)
  • DIY: Do-It-Yourself/Do-It-Ourselves (2022)
  • Speculative Futures (2021)
  • Forms of Care: Building the Worlds We Need (2020)
Symposium lecture

Willamette University

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