What is a Symposium?

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A symposium is a formal gathering in an academic environment where experts in a field meet to (a) offer scholarly, research-informed perspectives on a chosen theme or issue, (b) discuss these perspectives, and (c) make recommendations for future action.  Typically, a symposium addresses a single topic. All contributions are framed in relation to that topic, with the intention of developing a deeper understanding of the topic. Perspectives offered and discussed are expected to be intellectually-sound and informed by scholarly and/or research-based evidence.  While the terms “symposium” and “conference” are often used interchangeably, they denote gatherings of a different kind. The Art Education Research Institute (AERI) supports critical, systematic, empirical, and theoretical research and scholarship that addresses key intellectual and practical issues in the field of art education.  Further, it seeks to promote a broad range of rigorous research practices and methodologies drawn from the arts, humanities, and social sciences to improve inquiry related to teaching and learning in and through the visual arts. Therefore, the annual AERI symposium focuses on the topic of research theory and practice within the field of art education with the intention of engaging symposium attendees in scholarly and continuing conversations to advance research practices and thought.