September 26–28 in Atlanta

Art Papers will host an Art Writing + Publishing Symposium, a three-day gathering that will reflect on the present and future of contemporary art criticism in the United States. This symposium marks a pivotal moment in the magazine’s 50-year legacy, as it enters its final year of operations.

Founded in 1976, Art Papers has long been a critical platform for arts discourse, supporting diverse perspectives in contemporary art and culture.This program is part of the Fire Ecology Project, a three-year plan launched in 2024 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 symposium will present 16 invited speakers who represent some of the most innovative, sustainable, and renowned voices in art writing and publishing. 

SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS

  • Re’al Christian (Vera List Center)
  • Sasha Cordingley (independent writer)
  • Daria Simone Harper (writer, editor, podcaster)
  • Tempestt Hazel (Sixty Inches from Center)
  • James Hoff (Primary Information)
  • Maori Karmael Holmes (Seen/Blackstar)
  • Jameson Johnson (Boston Art Review)
  • Courtney McClellan (Burnaway)
  • Siddhartha Mitter (New York Times)
  • Be Oakley (Gender Fail)
  • Mary Louise Schumacher (Dorothea & Leo Rabkin Foundation)
  • TK Smith (Emory University)
  • Hrag Vartanian (Hyperallergic)
  • Emily Watlington (Art in America)
  • Lindsay Preston Zappas (Carla)
  • Natalia Zuluaga ([NAME] Publications)

BUY A TICKET

EVENT DETAILS

  • September 26–28, 2025
  • Location: Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
  • Tickets: $50/3-day pass
    • $10/single-day passes will be available, space permitting, 2 weeks prior to event

The symposium will be structured around three central lines of inquiry:

  • What Models? What funding structures, institutional frameworks, and measures of success are most viable today? How do organizations balance sustainability with diversity, accessibility, and inclusion?

  • What Forms? Which programming formats remain relevant, and which feel inadequate? How can arts organizations respond to crises and rapid change?

  • What Audiences? How do we balance intellectual rigor with accessibility? What do contemporary audiences seek from arts writing, and how have expectations shifted in recent years?

.

The venue: Ponce City Market

  • 10 steps to the Atlanta Beltline and at the heart of Atlanta, Ponce City Market puts the city’s best foot forward
  • Walkable neighborhood with a bounty of amenities at varied price points
  • Proximity to hotels and partner-sponsored events

We are proud to partner with Scout Living at Ponce City Market to offer symposium attendees special discounts for on-site lodging. A booking link can be requested at ticket check-out to access a single bedroom unit at $179 per night + tax and fees for Sept 25–28.

Scout Living’s unique units feature fine-tuned, functional minimalism with galley kitchens and separate living and sleeping spaces for a comfortable, at home feel. Each fully-furnished unit offers a kitchen stocked with cooking essentials, dishwasher, and a combo washer/dryer. Enjoy our rooftop with outdoor pool and 260-degree city views, wellness center, and lounge spaces.

Rooms include:
Refrigerator
Microwave
Washer/Dryer
Dishwasher
High Speed Internet

Amenities:
Rooftop pool
360-degree Rooftop City Views
24-hour Concierge
Garage Parking

For media + sponsorship inquiries, please contact Sarah Higgins | Executive + Artistic Director | director@artpapers.org