Stuart Weitzman School of Design
102 Meyerson Hall
210 South 34th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
The University of Pennsylvania School of Design Department of Landscape Architecture is convening the first in a triennial series of symposia that brings together a range of emerging voices actively engaged in advancing landscape as medium of contemporary culture.
The event and corresponding publication promote work from across the spectrum of landscape-engaged practice, including, but not limited to: academic research, design research, design practice, policy, advocacy, technology and history.
The one-and-a-half-day symposium is organized around a public colloquium format. The event asks participants to take a stand, move beyond platitudes, stake out territory and demonstrate action—both executed and imagined. Animated discourse, divergent views and substantiated dissent are anticipated elements of the proceedings.
Applicants who wish to participate must have received their most recent degree (MLA, MARCH, PhD, MLAUD/MAUD, MCP/MUP, etc.) on or after May 1, 2006. Applicants can be academics, practicing designers (working independently or within a firm), or engaged in allied fields such as public policy, real estate, community development, institutional philanthropy, engineering, law, international development, etc. Applications from both within and beyond North America are encouraged. Those engaged in landscape issues, but operating outside of the traditional discipline of landscape architecture are of particular interest.
Note: Current or former employees of the University of Pennsylvania School of Design are not eligible to participate.
Those interested in participating are asked to submit the following documents:
- 100-word bio (8.5x11 or A4)
- Full curriculum vitae (8.5x11 or A4)
- 750-1,000-word statement of intent (max two-page, 8.5x11 or A4) that responds to the question of landscape’s capacity as medium for engaging issues of contemporary culture, ecology, technology, politics and urbanism. This statement should concisely describe the motivations behind the applicant’s work; the activities she/he have undertaken in pursuit of these motivations; where the applicant sees this work going; and why this work is relevant to contemporary/future landscape discourse.
- A 20-page (8.5x11 or A4) work sample that clearly supports the content of what is discussed in the statement of intent. This document can include independent scholarship, portfolio of design work, media coverage of projects, etc. File size may not exceed 20MB.
These materials will be reviewed by a jury of standing faculty from the University of Pennsylvania School of Design who will select 10-12 individuals for participation in the event.
Applications must be submitted digitally, as a single PDF, by no later than 12:00pm EST on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Selected participants will be notified by email on or before January 20, 2017. The event will be held at the University of Pennsylvania on March 30-31, 2017.
Submissions and/or questions may be submitted by email to PennLandscapeDialogues@gmail.com
This event is made possible by the Gary & Barbara Siegler Special Projects Endowed Fund and the generosity of Bonnie Sellers.