A platform where artists, academics and creative practitioners from around the world converge to explore the evolving language of contemporary art.
The International Art Symposium (IARTSS) is an annual event organized by the Integrated School for the Handicapped at Anadolu University. Since its inception, the symposium has grown into a significant international gathering that brings together artists, researchers and educators committed to exploring the boundaries of artistic practice.
Each edition of the symposium creates a unique space for dialogue between creative practice and scholarly inquiry. Participants are invited to present papers, exhibit artworks and engage in workshops that examine current issues shaping the global art world. The symposium is guided by the conviction that art is a universal language capable of bridging cultures and challenging conventions.
The 8th edition, held online between 21 June and 1 July 2021, adapted to the global context of the COVID-19 pandemic — demonstrating the symposium's resilience and continued commitment to fostering international artistic exchange regardless of circumstance.
Each edition of the symposium has carved out its own identity while remaining true to the core mission of advancing international artistic dialogue.
The symposium welcomes contributions across a broad spectrum of artistic disciplines and research themes, encouraging interdisciplinary conversation.
Inclusive & Accessible Art — Exploring artistic practices that engage disability, accessibility and the integration of differently-abled individuals in creative communities.
Contemporary Art Theory & Criticism — Papers and presentations examining current movements, critical frameworks and methodologies in art history and theory.
Art Education & Pedagogy — Innovative approaches to teaching art at all levels, with particular attention to universal design and inclusive classroom practices.
Digital & New Media Arts — Works and research engaging technology, digital tools and the evolving relationship between art and the digital environment.
Cultural Heritage & Identity — Artistic inquiry into tradition, memory, place and the preservation or transformation of cultural identity through art.
The symposium is hosted and organized by Anadolu University's Integrated School for the Handicapped (Engelliler Entegre Yüksekokulu), a pioneering institution in inclusive higher education in Turkey.
One of Turkey's largest and most established universities, located in Eskişehir. Anadolu University is internationally recognized for its open and distance education programs as well as its commitment to inclusive education.
A unique faculty within Anadolu University dedicated to providing higher education opportunities for students with disabilities, with a particular focus on artistic disciplines including visual arts, ceramics and graphic design.
The symposium welcomes abstract and full paper submissions, artistic contributions and exhibition entries from researchers, artists and educators worldwide.
Submit your abstract — Prepare a structured abstract (200–400 words) outlining your paper or artistic project and send it to the symposium email address before the stated deadline.
Receive acceptance notification — The scientific committee reviews all submissions and notifies authors of acceptance, revision requests or rejection within the published timeline.
Prepare your full paper — Accepted authors are required to submit a full paper following the symposium's formatting guidelines. Details are sent by the organizing team after acceptance.
Exhibition participation — Visual artists may also submit works for inclusion in the symposium exhibition. Exhibition submission deadlines are announced separately for each edition.
Publication — Presented papers are compiled and published in the symposium proceedings book, with selected works considered for partner academic journals.