2026 ART PRO

1. Peter Baur, Professor, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
   Title: Intellectual Property, Creative Economies, and Cultural Trade: Panel Evidence from the BRICS Countries.
2. Jason Noble, Associate Professor, CUNY Lehman College, USA.
   Title: Mousikē as Democratic Paideia: Arts Education, Authoritarianism, and the Athenian Question.
3. Naila Keleta-Mae, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo, Canada.
   Title: Black Visual Art as Freedom in International Contexts.
4. Jellisa Ricketts, Graduate Student & Researcher, York University, Canada.
   Title: Black and Free: Punk Afrosonics and Black Expressive (Counter) Culture.

1. Konstantin Zenkin, Professor & Vice-Rector for Research, Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Russia.
   Title: Modifications of the “Eternal Feminine” in the Operas of Alban Berg.
2. Reginald Jackson, Assistant Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
   Title: Fostering Intercultural Musical Understanding by Learning to Play the Keyboard by Ear.
3. Elena Rovenko, Archivist, Researcher, Rachmaninoff Conservatory, Paris, France.
   Title: On the Effect of Chromesthesia on the Principles of Musical Form Building.
4. Damla Olcay, PhD Student, University of Strasbourg, France.
   Title: The Operatic Aesthetics of Çelebi by Cemal Reşit Rey.

1. Paulette Hebert, Professor, Oklahoma State University, USA.
   Title: Exploring Novelty as an Aspect of Tourism & Wine Preferences.
2. Azlizam Aziz, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.
   Title: Illegal Wildlife Trafficking – The Dark Side of Traveling across Borders: Malaysia Experience.
3. Yasmin Babalou, Assistant Professor, Lewis University, USA.
   Title: Evolving Travel Risk Perception: Longitudinal Scale Development in a Politically Sensitive Destination (2019–2025).
4. Salete Goncalves, Professor, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil.
   Marcelo Taveira, Professor, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil.
   Endel Costa, Professor, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil.
   Title: A Critical Reflection on the Macropolitics of Tourist Safety of Brazil.

1. Ori Z Soltes, Teaching Professor, Georgetown University, USA.
   Title: Ethos, Pathos, and Transformation in Western Art: From the Parthenon to Abstract Expressionism.
2. Eloise Philpot, Associate Professor, Radford University, USA.
   Title: Raphael and the First Circle of Hell.
3. Bogna Lakomska, Associate Professor, Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, Poland.
   Title: Threads and Meanings. Tapestries from the Collection of the Pomeranian Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz Exhibited at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.
4. Demetra Kolakis, Course Leader, BA Fashion Retail Design & Brand Experience, University of the Arts London, UK.
   Title: Exploring the Blended Spaces of Fashion.

1. Jessica Telfer, Associate Professor, Oklahoma City University, USA.
   Title: Costuming the Elements: Creating Costumes that Convey a Sensation Rather Than Character.
2. Michael Zampelli, Associate Professor, Fordham University, USA.
   Title: Greek Tragedy: Training for Pastoral Ministry.
3. Errik Hood, Assistant Professor & Director of Vocal Performance, New York University Steinhardt, USA.
   Title: Proposing a Systematic Approach for Dramatic Preparation of Western Classical Art Song.
4. Aslihan Saygin Gemici, Research Assistant, Suleyman Demirel University, Türkiye.
   Title: The Reproduction of Props and Space in Beckett’s Theater.

1. Claudia Rodriguez Espinosa, Professor and Researcher, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Mexico.
   Erika Elizabeth Pérez Múzquiz, Professor and Researcher, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Mexico.
   Marcela Guadalupe Mariano Romero, Professor and Researcher, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Mexico.
   Title: Public Policies for Tourism Development: An Analysis Based on Perception and Economy – Case Study of the Pueblos Mágicos Program in Michoacán, Mexico.
2. Rimsha Khalid, Assistant Professor, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
   Title: Quietcations and the Pursuit of Inner Peace: Exploring Solo Travelers’ Motivations for Silent Tourism Experiences in Thailand.
3. Mohsin Raza, Lecturer, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
   Title: Illuminating the Night Economy: Exploring the Role of Night Markets in Phuket’s Noctourism Landscape.
4. Rahmatina Awaliah Kasri, Director, Center for Islamic Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia.
   Fadlul Imansyah, Professor, Hajj Financial Management Agency, Indonesia.
   Muhammad Arief Mufraini, Professor, Hajj Financial Management Agency, Indonesia.
   M. Dawud Arif Khan, Professor, Hajj Financial Management Agency, Indonesia.
   Agung Hendarsa, Professor, Hajj Financial Management Agency, Indonesia.
   Risna Triandhari, Professor, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia.
   Title: Towards an Integrated Pilgrimage Services: A Religious Tourism Framework for Optimizing Quality and Value Capture.

1. Eliza Gardiner, Professor, Vancouver Island University, Canada.
   Title: Clytemnestra’s Relay Race of Fire: An Interactive Map of the Beacon Speech in Agamemnon.
2. Tavia La Follette, Associate Professor, Towson University, USA.
   Title: Ecology, Art, & Climate Change with the Guna Yala: When the Butterflies Would Visit.
3. Emmy Weldon, Assistant Professor, University of Richmond, USA.
   Title: Experiential Learning through Collaborative Creation: Engaging Students in Experimental Eco-Performance Art Projects.

1. Xiaohuan Zhao, Professor, The University of Sydney, Australia.
   Title: Inscriptions of Temple Theatres in Shangdang: Space, Performance and Public Governance.
2. Ye Tian, Research Assistant, Τhe University of Sydney, Australia.
   Title: Street and Temple Performances:The Celebration of Lord Guan’s Birthday.
3. Duanfang Lu, Professor, The University of Sydney, Australia.
   Title: Gender as a Spatial Practice in Chinese Theatre Architecture.
4. Wenming Che, Professor, Shaanxi Normal University, China.
   Title: The Roles of Xiqu Performances in Civil Self-governance in Ancient China.
5. Deyin Luo, Professor, Tsinghua University, China.
   Title: A Courtyard Theatre on a Steep Slope: The Song Clan Ancestral Shrine in Yangjiatang.
6. Luwei Wang, Professor, Shaanxi Normal University, China.
   Title: An Investigative Study of the Yuan-Dynasty Stele Inscription ‘The Musicians Offered Their Performance’ at Yu the Great Temple in Guojiazhuang Village, Lucheng, Shanxi.

1. David Philip Wick, Professor of History (Retired), Gordon College, USA.
   Title: Arts, Artifice, Therapy & the Performative Destination – Pergamon: Α Few Glimpses of “Build” and “Showcase” in the Rise of the Ancient Mediterranean’s First “Destination” Arts, Resort and University Town.
2. Thomas Sakoulas, Professor, State University of New York at Oneonta, USA.
   Title: Information Design: Mapping Ancient Greece and the Challenge of Diachronicity.
3. Maria Irini Avgoulas, Researcher, Cultural Counselling and Consultancy, Australia.
   Rebecca Fanany, Associate Professor, Central Queensland University, Australia.
   Title: The Art and Experience of Greek Migration to Australian Born Generations.

Summary: Outsider art refers to a broad field of practice encompassing artists who may be self-taught or formally trained, but whose work develops outside early institutional, academic, and market validation. Often members of equity-deserving communities, these artists encounter systemic barriers to access, visibility, and recognition. Despite their foundational influence on modern and contemporary art since the early twentieth century, outsider artists and their contributions remain under-referenced within dominant art-historical narratives and institutional frameworks. This presentation traces the evolution of outsider art from its origins in Art Brut to its contemporary emergence as an expanded field of practice. I will examine current outsider-focused festivals in Canada and internationally, and present selected case studies of contemporary artists to illustrate the diversity of practices, contexts, and lived experiences encompassed by outsiderness. The presentation concludes by identifying persistent structural barriers faced by outsider artists and proposes understanding outsiderness not as a fixed category, but as a fluid spectrum shaped by social, cultural, and institutional conditions.

It requires pre-booking

1. Javier Albo, Professor, Georgia State University, USA.
   Title: (Re)discovering the African Roots in Flamenco Music.
2. Dena Kay Jones, Professor, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), USA.
   Title: Vision through Sounds: The Life and Work of Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999).
3. Brenda M. Romero, Professor Emerita, University of Colorado Boulder, USA.
   Title: The Resilient Danza de Matachines Ceremonial.
4. Pierre Leichner, Vice President, Community Art Council of Vancouver, Canada.
   Title: Artists in the Kitchen.
5. Adnan Hadziselimovic, Associate Professor, University of Malta, Malta.
   Title: IMPULSE: Performing Digital Heritage in Mixed Realities.
6. Luis Xarez, Assistant Professor, University of Lisbon, Portugal.
   Title: Why Should Dance Resist Being Turned into a Sport?

1. Gregory Garvey, Professor, Quinnipiac University, USA.
   Title: AI Slop Wars: Weaponized Non-Information and the Adversarial AI Breakout.
2. Sandra Meiri, Professor Emerita, The Open University of Israel, Israel.
   Title: The Cinematic Visualization of Dream and Fantasy as a Reflection of Historical Guilt in Shutter Island.
3. Raya Morag, Professor Emerita, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
   Title: Post-Cultural Revolution Chinese Cinema of Betrayal: The Collaborator, the Doubling Paradigm, and Ethics.
4. Jani Wilson, Associate Professor, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
   Title: Kōrero Pakiwaitara: Kapa Haka Stories, under-the-Radar.
5. Gizem Gurer, Instructor, Bilkent University, Türkiye.
   Title: From Pehlivan to Performer: Staging Oedipus Rex through the Performative Tools of Traditional Oil Wrestling.

1. Jose Luis Cornejo-Ortega, Professor, University of Guadalajara, Mexico.
   Title: Tourism and Water in Coastal Destinations: Water Governance, Ecological Limits, and Tensions in the Tourism Model. The Case of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
2. Azwifaneli Nemushungwa, Senior Lecturer, University of Venda, South Africa.
   Title: From Spiritual Practice to Economic Asset: The Developmental Economics of Sacred Travel in Emerging Tourism Regions – The Case of Limpopo Province, South Africa.
3. Mohamed Hamdoun, Associate Professor, University of Tunis, Tunisia.
   Firas Daoudi, PhD Student, University of Tunis, Tunisia.
   Title: Investigating Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the African Tourism Industry: Unveiling Trends and Insights through Bibliometric Analysis.
4. Ivanka Lulcheva, Head, Department of Tourism and Associate Professor, Agricultural University Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
   Krasimir Aleksandrov, Associate Professor, Agricultural University Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
   Title: Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Pathways in Hospitality and Tourism Development in a Small-Scale Destination.
5. Anusara Sawangchai, Assistant Professor, Phuket Rajabhat University, Thailand.
   Title: From Vacation to Workation: Transforming Phuket into a Digital Nomad Hub.

1. Lisa Sandlos, Postdoctoral Researcher, Brock University & Faculty Member, York University, Canada.
   Title: Blurred Lines: Expanding Conversations about Sexualization of Youth in Competitive Dance.
2. Carmella Scorcia Pacheco, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New Mexico, USA.
   Title: Embodied Performance through the Indita Ballad of the U.S. Southwest Borderlands.
3. Xiaomeng Li, PhD Candidate, Nagoya University, Japan.
   Title: Performing Masculinity across Cultures: The Reimagining of Yu Meiren in Japan’s Takarazuka Revue and China’s Yue Opera.
4. Ying Wang, PhD Candidate, Nagoya University, Japan.
   Title: Choreographing the Nation in Early PRC: Body, Stage, and Cultural Politics in The Lotus Lantern.

1. Qi Xu, Institute Council Member, Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, China.
   Title: How Do Flexible Norms Achieve Effectiveness for Sensitive Personal Information Governance in Tourism Big Data Commercialization?
2. Yudan Peng, PhD Candidate, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
   Title: Reframing eWOM in Cultural Heritage Destination Image Formation.
3. Sijie Liu, PhD Student, Shandong University, China.
   Haiyan Kong, Professor, Shandong University, China.
   Ye Ding, Associate Professor, Shanghai University, China.
   Jamie (Jie) Sun, Associate Professor, California State Polytechnic University, USA.
   Title: When Less Speaks Louder: Differential Effects of Liubai Types in Short-Form Travel Videos on Narrative Engagement and Visit Intention.
4. Yihui Lyu, Master’s Student, Shandong University, China.
   Haiyan Kong, Professor, Shandong University, China.
   Title: How AI Change Tourists’ Behavior?

1. Daria Shageeva, Researcher, A.N. Scriabin Memorial Museum, Russia.
   Title: Stage Directions in Elgar’s Oratorios: Creating a Religious Space of Meanings.
2. Erinn Knyt, Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.
   Title: A Portrait of Modernist Visual Art: Ferruccio Busoni and the Sonatina Seconda.
3. Stacie Rossow, Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University, USA.
   Title: Michael McGlynn’s Role in the Nationalist Choral Music of Ireland.
4. Mark Konewko, Professor, Carillonneur & Director of the University Chorus and Chamber Choir, Marquette University, USA.
   Title: Opening Ears and Hearts: Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching Listening Skills for Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time in a Streaming Age.