“Creative Hosting: A Strategy for Public Engagement,”
a workshop to kick start the ASTR conference in Nashville
Thursday, 1 November 2012, 9 to a.m. 12 p.m.

We have often witnessed debates where a little creative thinking might have encouraged more democratic participation, been to meetings where a simple round of introductions might have eliminated the awkwardness and simple re-arrangement of school furniture alleviated the boredom, sat through public dialogues where a few performance tricks might have helped the interviewer assist the interviewee in communicating complicated research findings and initiating true knowledge exchange, and attended jam-packed conferences that could have taken advantage of the spaces in between.

In this workshop, we will explore practical techniques for facilitating creative public engagement. During this three hour workshop, participants will consider unconventional uses of institutional space, create their own hosting persona, design alternative public meeting structures, devise conference interventions, and explore food, locality and custom as a means of meeting and greeting. We will also engage in a critical investigation of issues (including gender, race, and labor) associated with hosting and hospitality. Participants will be encouraged to develop and enact interventions created in the workshop throughout the weekend as a way of enhancing and 2012 ASTR Conference experience.

All are welcome, but participation is limited to the first 25 registrants. Please register by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The workshop is created and led by Lois Weaver (Artist and Professor, Department of Drama, Queen Mary University of London) in collaboration with Laurie Beth Clark (Professor, Art Department, University of Wisconsin) and Michael Peterson (Professor, Theatre and Drama, University of Wisconsin).

There is no fee to participate in this workshop.