The University of California Institute for Research in the Arts (UCIRA) has issued a call for participation for their third annual conference, State of the Arts 2008: Demonstration. Originally slated to occur in May, it has been postponed until November. (Thanks to Ian Garrett for passing this info along)

From the UCIRA’s official “call for participation”:

“State of the Arts, UCIRA’s annual arts showcase/conference brings together artists, scholars, and arts administrators from across the UC system and beyond to a different UC campus each year for 3 days of performances, installations, presentations, interventions, workshops, and dialogue.

State of the Arts 2008 will be hosted November 6-8 by UC Riverside on the university campus and at their new ARTSblock facility situated in the historic downtown district centered [around] the Mission Inn. The event will showcase a broad range of contemporary artistic practice and scholarship.

In addition to catalyzing new research, arts-centered projects and partnerships across the system and beyond, State of the Arts 2008 sets out to broaden and deepen the links between people working in and on the arts within UC and the broader community.”

UCIRA is seeking proposals focused on the theme of demonstration — defined in the “call for participation” thus:

demonstrate v. 1. show (feelings etc) by experiment 2. describe and explain (a proposition, machine etc) by experiment, use etc. 3. logically prove or be proof of 4. take part in or organize a public demonstration; demonstrator n. 1,3 make evident, establish, exhibit (see also PROVE) 1,2 display, illustrate see also
EXPLAIN 1,4 march, rally, protest L. demonstrare de+monstrare; see MONSTERATE

Also directly from UCIRA:

“To streamline the review process, proposals will be considered in the following categories:

Demonstrations/Orientations: 10 minute presentations on a specific research project, approach or engagement. Topics might include, but are not limited to, presentations on research projects by faculty or students; reports on innovative collaborations across disciplines, departments or campuses; or scholarly work on any aspect of the arts. Participants should feel free to propose complete panels based on a research area or theme.

Installations: Site-specific works; networked, online exhibitions or interactive pieces; and interventions in spaces surrounding the ARTSblock facilities (located on the downtown pedestrian mall). Installation proposals should include technical specifications and location criteria.

Performances: Proposals are welcome for performances both within traditional venues and non-traditional spaces within the ARTSblock facility, or the UCR Arts Building, home to the dance, music, theatre, art history, and studio art departments. Works combining several performance disciplines, or innovative performance integrating technologies, are especially encouraged. Proposals for screenings will also be welcome under this category.”

Please check out the UCIRA web site for further information, including deadline dates (which appear to be wrong on the official call for participation) and contact information.