SAVE THE DATES: September 26 – 28, 2025

Art Papers is pleased to announce a national symposium on arts writing and publishing. The three-day symposium will examine the past, present and future of this sector in the US. This program will emphasize a “real-talk” approach of transparency, vulnerability, and storytelling to foster honest conversations and meaningful connections with people interested in exploring the strategies and complexities of sustaining arts writing, arts criticism and publishing. 

We will examine post-Covid realities, current threats to independent voices, and definitions of success and sustainability. Findings, synthesis, and edited papers from the symposium will be made available on ARTPAPERS.org, and selections will be published in our final Fire Ecology print issue in 2026.

The symposium will present 15 invited speakers who represent some of the most innovative, sustainable, and renowned voices in art writing and publishing. 

The program will include individual publishers and writers presenting case studies, speculations, and instigations; “Light A Fire” live readings of selected works of art writing/criticism with group discussion; small panels to offer varied perspectives and strategies on a focused topic; and group discussion sessions that build upon the symposium’s core questions.

Symposium participants will also have access to satellite programming:

  • Press Previews / Behind the Scenes with our partner Atlanta Art Fair—Symposium participants will receive complimentary tickets to the fair.
  • Access to studio visits with a curated list of Atlanta-based Artists selected by Art Papers
  • Home & Studio tour of the Mildred Thompson Legacy Project
  • + more TBA

Full speakers list + ticket details coming soon!

Symposium dialogues will respond to a core set of guiding questions that unify the Fire Ecology projects various programs.

What Models—an exploration of institutional and para-institutional models, this question intends to probe the viability and sustainability of nonprofit vs for profit, independent vs imprint, traditional vs innovative funding models, post-covid resilience and sustainability, and to re-evaluate ethical norms for compensation.

What Forms—regarding art writing and publishing’s production, programming, and mission-driven outputs, this question considers the formal questions of what we produce, including questions of “critique” vs “art writing,” print vs digital, text vs other media (social media, podcasts, etc.), and balancing fundability with identity.

What Audiences—interrogating the question of “for whom?” this line of questioning addresses balancing intellectual rigor vs accessibility, and asks what artists, curators, galleries, museums, writers, collectors, and other readers want and need from arts writing today. Who cares about art writing? If the answer is only those who produce it, then what next?

This program is part of the Fire Ecology Project, a three-year strategic plan designed to celebrate Art Papers’ legacy, mobilize the organization’s resources in service to the cultural community, and thoughtfully arrive at a meaningful and controlled conclusion of operations in 2026, at 50 years. Through these efforts, we aim to honor and preserve the legacy of Art Papers, and to “pay it forward” to arts organizations of the future by sharing our knowledge and experience to enrich the soil from which they will grow.

THE VENUE

Ponce City Market offers access to some of the best attractions in Atlanta. Explore the iconic stretch of Ponce de Leon Avenue, which emphasizes the city’s unique history and culture. Ponce City Market gives you access to a wide array of flavorful cuisine. Eateries offer must-try dishes such as Southern fried chicken, fresh Cuban sandwiches, authentic Italian pasta, and Mediterranean falafel. On the rooftop terrace, Skyline Park offers attractions including mini golf, basketball, and vintage games.

  • 10 steps from the Atlanta Beltline
  • Walkable neighborhood with many amenities at varied price points
  • Proximity to hotels and Atlanta Art Fair partner events