Emergent Futures: State of the Field
Three days of exchanges and social research in North Carolina’s Triangle & Triad

September 13 – Chapel Hill
September 14 – Durham
September 15 – Greensboro

For a full decade, Open Engagement has brought together artists, activists, and scholars for an intensive yearly conference in a wide range of cities like New York, Chicago, Oakland, Portland, and Regina. Founded by artists and characterized by its grassroots self-organization, OE has stood out as a key context for socially engaged practitioners and theorists alike. Participants have ranged from the local to the international, including people like Angela Davis, Suzanne Lacy, Lucy Lippard, Mel Chin, Rick Lowe, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, J. Morgan Puett, Tom Finkelpearl, Claire Doherty, Michael Rakowitz, Pablo Helguera, Paul Ramirez Jonas, Emily Jacir, Julie Ault, and Theaster Gates.

As part of Open Engagement’s research year to re-assess its future and evaluate the needs of the field, they will be hosted in the NC Triangle & Triad September 13-15 2019 by the FHI Social Practice Lab at Duke, UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Chapel Hill, and various local organizations. The OE team will keynote the weekend, sharing their trajectory and making space for conversations on local needs, followed by an emergent strategy training. Led by Alexis Pauline Gumbs to assist in thinking about possible futures, the training is based on the work of adrienne maree brown and has been arranged with the Emergent Strategy Institute (ESII). NC partners will present a series of programs and events highlighting the work of socially engaged artists, activists, students, scholars, community members, as well as organizations working within the area. This event has been organized by Pedro Lasch (Duke) and Lee Walton (UNC-G), in collaboration with all listed individuals and groups.

View full schedule of weekend here



Sunday, September 15th Schedule


11:00am – 12:00pm


Civil Contracts, a public conversation facilitated by Sherrill Roland, Greensboro Project Space (open to all)


12:30-2:00pm

Location: Greensboro Project Space

Event: Collective Audiobook: Emergent Strategies by adrienne maree brown

w/Garden Party by Patrick Healy

2:30 - 4:00pm

Workshop Series

1. Diego Vergara, Backyards, “The Pink House” on 804 Rankin Place
2. Shoshana Gugenheim: Citizen 100, Greensboro Project Space
3. Magloire Lubika: Smell the Roses, Greensboro Project Space
4. “Horticulture Workshop” Theatrical work by Lee Walton and Nikki Silvestri, Deep Roots Co-Op
5. Lowell Fuchs: Deep Listening, UNCG Campus / Connor McNerney’s “Light House” Space across from Gatewood Studio Arts Atrium

4:00 - 5:30pm

Wrap-Up Conversation on Emergent Futures (closing event)

Deep Roots Co-Op, Greensboro

Public gathering with live music, food options, cold drinks, and good people.