2023 Series Lineup
The Creative Professionals Lecture Series invites a broad range of interdisciplinary practitioners including artists, designers, curators, educators and historians to engage with the campus and local communities. The Watkins College of Art is committed to inviting diverse and innovative voices that propel the transformative power of art and design forward. In addition to public lectures, students benefit from personal engagement with speakers through class visits and studio critiques.
This lecture series is FREE and open to the public. All lectures begin at 5:00 PM in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts Room 120.
September 18 | Creating Opportunities
It is often said that one of the keys to success is to seize the opportunities before us. Sometimes, one can create new opportunities. By doing so, in the case of creatives, we can increase our chances to show and share our work. In this session, Tom Carr will provide examples of how he has created novel situations to the benefit of not only himself or his team members and colleagues, but also of viewers and the broader community.
This event is moderated by Watkins College of Art Assistant Professor of Sculpture Thomas Sturgill.
September 25 | Creando Oportunidades
Please note that this event is presented in Spanish.
A veces se dice que una de las llaves del éxito es aprovechar las oportunidades que se nos presentan. En ocasiones podemos crearlas. Al hacerlo, en el ámbito creativo, podemos aumentar las posibilidades de mostrar y compartir nuestro trabajo. En esta charla, Tom Carr y Carmen Miquel mostrarán ejemplos de cómo han creado nuevas situaciones, no sólo para su beneficio, el de su equipo y el de sus colegas, sino también para los espectadores y para el público en general.
October 09 | Building Community Through the Act of Social Brokering
No one can achieve and sustain success within an isolated vacuum. The importance of outreach, openness, and kindness is fundamental to growth of an individual and a community. In this session, Gregory Santos will talk about projects, mostly established through social media, intended to foster community among peers, colleagues, and strangers. Through artistic projects like Mixed Grit, global social gatherings on an audio app, organizing portfolio exchanges, and spearheading a biennial citywide concentration on printmaking, the focus is on the uplifting, benefit, and betterment of others while knowing that the positive returns are intangible.
This event is moderated by Watkins College of Art Assistant Professor of Printmaking Brandon Williams.
November 06 | Cour Design
Cour Design is a consortium of designers, creatives and technicians. In this session, we will learn how they are reshaping the entertainment design industry, pushing boundaries, and inspiring the next wave of visionary artists and designers. Co-founders Erik Anderson and Gordon Droitcour, as well as Lead Creative and Art Director Emily Buckner Pierce, will explore the innovative intersection of art and technology, delving into the transformative power of design in today's entertainment spaces.
This event is moderated by Watkins College of Art Dean James Pierce.
The Creative Professionals Lecture Series is presented by the Watkins College of Art at Belmont University and made possible through grant funding provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
