Resonance: Collaboration in Practice and Theory

Hosted by the Art + Design Department at Eastern Illinois University

Hybrid Conference: Virtual and in-person in Charleston, Illinois

Resonance is a natural phenomenon that occurs when an external vibration aligns with a system’s natural frequency, creating amplification. This is why a singer can shatter a glass with the right note, and how fireflies synchronize their flashing into a unified pulse.In artistic and educational contexts, we might describe resonance in other terms: reciprocity, collaboration, exchange, dialogue, synchronicity, alchemy, friendship. Put simply, it’s the mindset of being better together.

Artists and educators are continually in conversation with materials, histories, collaborators, and communities. These ongoing exchanges of listening create resonance that amplifies beyond the individual, weaving a dynamic web of art and pedagogy that reflects on our present moment, and can shape our shared future. 

Hosted by the Art + Design Department at Eastern Illinois University, the 2026 MACAA conference will serve as a site for such resonance to emerge. Through panels, presentations, workshops, and exhibitions, the conference will spark new conversations and amplify existing ones, nurturing collaborative energy across disciplines, institutions, and communities. Join us for this hybrid conference to explore how collaboration resonates through the work we make, the ways we teach, and the futures we imagine.

About the conference: 

Virtual sessions will be held on March 26 and 27, and an in-person day will round out the conference on March 28 at Eastern Illinois University. Participants may choose to attend virtually, in person, or both. Session proposals should specify whether they are intended for virtual or in-person delivery and will be scheduled and marketed accordingly. All sessions, regardless of format, will be recorded and made available online to conference participants. 

In addition to traditional conference sessions, MACAA welcomes proposals for unconventional or experimental formats, such as lesson or syllabus shares, workshops, Q&A panels, demonstrations, and roundtable discussions. If you have a unique idea, we’re eager to help make it possible in order to offer our members thoughtful, practical, and creative experiences throughout the conference. To propose a session, please visit the link below to submit a title and an abstract (250 words maximum) for consideration in our 2026 Hybrid Conference.