CALL FOR PAPERS: 37th Feminist Seminar (Fem Sem) “De-Learning. Creative and Collective Educational Practices”

Date and time: June 28th 2026, 12:00 p.m. – 03:00 p.m.
Arsenal Gallery in Białystok
Paper submission deadline: June 10th 2026

Most of us tend to associate the term “education” with hierarchical relations, “conveying knowledge”, and rigid sets of rules and principles. Formal intramural education is further linked to socialisation – preparing young people for a life in society to strictly defined cultural and social standards.

That, however, does not need to be the norm. Our communities have begun developing a growing number of educational initiatives – propositions of alternative approaches to teaching, positing a shared process of creating knowledge rather than “conveying” it, combined with reflection on what is recognised as knowledge, and who makes such decisions. These are grassroot initiatives, born of local community needs, commitment and passions – they offer flexible work forms, an individual approach to students, and foundations for building interpersonal relations. A growing number of art-based teaching projects have been evolving as well, all affording space for the free expression of individualism and self-improvement through diverse creative activities. Contemporary educational practices are by no means limited to activities involving children and young people only; many are based on intergenerational campaigns, participants representing different experiences and needs working together with intent to learn and “de-learn” as a community, moving away from the previously common patriarchal mentoring model.

The 37^th “De-Learning” Sem Fem is open to all and any individuals and collectives with a focus on alternative and inclusive educational models, art-based activities and projects supporting local communities, and/or marginalised groups in particular.

We welcome papers on:

• artistic education practices and art therapy
• intergenerational collaboration practices
• adaptation-free education
• alternative forms of organising knowledge
• multiplicity of contributions to education-related debates
• activist and artivist workshops
• creative fun and games strategies
• methods of inviting and including creative process participants

Please email us at seminariumfeministyczne@gmail.com to submit a description of your 20-minute intervention proposal and one .jpg file with an illustrative caption, no later than by June 10^th 2026. We may use illustrative captions to promote the 37^th Fem Sem.

The 37^th “De-Learning” Feminist Seminar will accompany the “Our Child” exhibition at the “Arsenal” Gallery in Białystok (June 26^th – August 30^th 2026). Financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Fund for Promoting

Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund 

Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Republic of Poland