How can we gather now?

Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) presents How can we gather now?, an experimental symposium directed by Asad Raza and Prem Krishnamurthy.

In a historical moment marked by many forms of fragmentation, political division, and social isolation, exacerbated by a global pandemic, this symposium attempts to explore questions of community. Gathering is a crucial practice in which people come to know one another, whether or not they share an ideological, cultural, religious, or professional identity. WPA’s symposium considers why intentional gathering is necessary for the well-being of living beings, and shares diverse models for joining together today.

The symposium is the culmination of two years of research and collaboration. It convenes artists, theorists, and organizers from all over the world as well as artworks and films. Participants include adrienne maree brown, Ambrose Nzams, Black Techno Matters, Centre for Land Affairs, Cynthia Connolly, Ed Halter, Emily Verla Bovino, Farrah Skeiky, Hope Ginsburg, Jonathan Yu, Leigh Ledare, Lenka Clayton, Mēlani N. Douglass, Mindy Seu, Mojdeh Rezaeipour, Naoco Wowsugi, Natalia Lombardo, Philippe Parreno, Phillip Andrew Lewis, Richard D. Bartlett, Sarah Morris, Stefanie Hessler, Tiffany Sia, Tony Cokes, Valerie Wiseman and others to be announced.

How can we gather now? is also itself a gathering and will be a shared collective experience. It collects a rich variety of experiential modes, from conversations to cinema to shared food to a “drum circle” of synthetic techno rhythms. Following WPA’s inquiry-based program model, the artistic directors have offered this urgent question to invited contributors as a prompt for artworks, conversations, performances, workshops, and gustatory experiences.

All are welcome to join in, break bread with us, and experience togetherness. The Symposium will take place at Eaton DC in downtown Washington, DC from Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2.

For full details, participant information, and research, please visit here.

Tickets
Tickets are available at a sliding scale starting at 90 USD. Tickets include access to all programs, three meals (breakfast & lunch on Saturday and brunch on Sunday), and a publication that will be produced after the symposium. Tickets can be purchased here.

Questions? For any questions or to request additional information, please email gathering [​at​] wpadc.org.