ACASA Triennial Conference: Call for Panel and Roundtable Proposals

Passages: Transmission, Circulation, and the Visual Across African Worlds

Rabat, Morocco

We invite proposals for panels and roundtables at this time (September 1 to November 1, 2026). A call for individual papers for open panels and participation in open roundtables will follow on December 1, 2026.

Key Dates

• Panel and Roundtable Proposals: Opens September 1, 2026; Closes November 1, 2026
• Individual Papers: Opens December 1, 2026; Closes January 15, 2027
• Fully Constituted Panels/Individual Papers Approved and Assigned: February 1, 2027

About the Theme

Passages is not only about where things travel. It is about what happens to them on the way. This theme organises the conference around movement as a condition rather than a subject: the routes, exchanges, and crossings that have shaped African visual cultures across time, and the questions of who carries knowledge, who receives it, and what transforms in transit. It invites scholarship that reframes canonical works and movements, ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary, through the lens of circulation rather than origin, asking not where an object or practice began, but what it has done as it moved.

To hold this conference in Rabat is part of the theme rather than incidental to it. Morocco sits at the intersection of trans-Saharan, Atlantic, and Mediterranean circuits, its capital shaped by Amazigh, Arab, Andalusian, and European traditions in the demanding work of encounter.

We Welcome Contributions on Themes Such As:

• Trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean exchange of objects, forms, and iconographies in precolonial and early modern periods
• Diasporic feedback loops between continent and elsewhere
• The mobility of African aesthetics through fashion, music, and design
• Digital platforms as new circuits of transmission, with their own distortions and gatekeepers
• The politics of scholarly transmission: which voices have been amplified or suppressed, which languages granted authority, and what it means to produce and receive knowledge across linguistic, institutional, and geographic borders
• Reframings of canonical works, regardless of where periodisation has placed them, through circulation rather than origin
• Cross-period pairings of scholars working on ancient and contemporary material around shared methodological questions
• Multilingual scholarly practice and the politics of periodisation

This list is meant to be suggestive and not exhaustive. We especially welcome panels and roundtables that do not directly reflect the Theme, and submissions on any topic beyond the core theme are also encouraged. We also welcome proposals for alternative formats.

Format

Regular panels will be 120 minutes long with either a) four 20-minute papers and a discussant, or b) five 20-minute papers. 90-minute roundtables or alternative discussion-based formats (such as lightning talks or poster presentations) are welcome; creativity encouraged.

Participants may only present one paper but may serve as a discussant on another panel or as a presenter on a roundtable. Proposals for panels and roundtables may be open, with a suggested topic, or fully constituted, with all proposed participants identified. Participation may be in person, virtual, or a combination of the two.

Panel and Roundtable Proposals Must Include the Following:

• A proposed title
• Name, professional title, and affiliation of the chair(s)
• An abstract not to exceed 100 words, to be published on the ACASA Triennial website, ACASA Member Newsletter, ACASA social media channels
• If fully constituted, the names, titles, and affiliations of all proposed participants
• Contact information of the chair(s), including email (for internal use only; this will not be publicized)

The submission deadline for panel and roundtable proposals is November 1, 2026.

Please submit via the submission portal: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXpLG-QFOHvyhtic3VPxya_1o6oZCpeX4kuJVxvIsxMI-h_Q/viewform?usp=header

Panel, roundtable, and paper proposals may be submitted by anyone, but an active ACASA membership is required to take part in the symposium. Visit https://www.acasaonline.org/join-acasa/ for information on membership and to join.

For any questions or concerns, please email ACASA Admin Caroline Bastian at bastian@acasaonline.org

Call for Applications

ACASA Provenance Workshop

November 9–10, 2026 | Chicago, Illinois

Submission Portal: https://forms.gle/oN4LRZJ2r2SRGqxC8

ACASA invites applications for its inaugural Provenance Workshop, a new initiative designed to invite dialogue, collaboration, and skill-building around provenance research and the stewardship of African art collections.

As museums, scholars, and cultural institutions continue to grapple with questions of ownership, collecting histories, accessibility, transparency, and ethical responsibility, provenance research continues to be an increasingly important area of practice and inquiry. This workshop aims to create a dedicated space for participants to engage with emerging methodologies, current debates, and practical approaches to provenance research while building connections with colleagues across the field.

This two-day, in-person program is hosted by the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago. It will bring together scholars, museum professionals, graduate students, independent researchers, and emerging leaders for focused discussions and hands-on learning with experts in the field.

The workshop will feature a keynote address, an opening reception, and three interactive sessions discussing topics of:

• Ethics, Legality, and Responsibility in Provenance Research
• Provenance and Public Engagement
• Making United States African Art Collections Accessible

To ensure meaningful discussion and active participation, the event is limited to 20 participants. Admission will be determined through a competitive application process with applications reviewed by a committee.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be an active ACASA member
• Demonstrate a strong interest in provenance research, museum practice, collections accessibility, cultural heritage, or related fields

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

1. Statement of Interest (maximum 500 words) describing their background, interest in the workshop, and how participation will support their current or future work
2. Curriculum Vitae (maximum 3 pages)

Application Timeline

• Application Portal Opens: July 8, 2026
• Application Deadline: August 5, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: Early September 2026

Registration and Funding

ACASA is unable to provide funding for this workshop, but is able to provide no registration costs for those invited to attend. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering all travel, accommodation, and related expenses.

This workshop is designed to be an ongoing program that supports learning and collaboration around provenance research and related issues in the field of African art.

ACASA plans to offer a future virtual provenance workshop to ensure broader accessibility and participation, especially for those unable to travel. ACASA aims to host these workshops during non-Triennial years, alternating between in-person and virtual formats pending participant feedback, member interest, and the availability of funding and institutional partnerships. Through this initiative, ACASA is working to develop member networks, create training opportunities, and support ongoing conversations about topics important to our members.

Please submit all required materials via this link: https://forms.gle/oN4LRZJ2r2SRGqxC8

For questions, please contact Allison Martino, ACASA Secretary, at secretary@acasaonline.org

ACASA is launching a new research grant to support graduate students enrolled in PhD programs in the arts and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora. This award is specifically directed to students in the formative stages of doctoral research and dissertation development. Every year one (or more) $5,000 grants will go to those who show exceptional promise of becoming leaders in the field based on their innovative approaches to dissertation research. A five-person selection committee chosen by the ACASA Board will determine the grantee(s); the inaugural recipient will be announced at the 2027 ACASA Triennial.

This merit-based award is intended to facilitate progress toward a fully realized dissertation prospectus. ACASA seeks to provide resources to support the development of new and groundbreaking methodologies, drawing on archives, libraries, and museum collections, as well as interactions with communities, partners, scholars, mentors, colleagues, and others. The range of possibilities is without limit and the grant is open to all continuing PhD students. We welcome bold ideas and risk-taking. At the end of the research year, recipients are expected to produce a progress report that can be posted on the ACASA website and linked to the Newsletter.

Criteria that will guide in assessing and selecting deserving dissertation research proposals include (but are not limited to):

1. Incorporating one or more methodological approaches in original ways;
2. Focusing on new subjects of inquiry (especially those involving historically under-studied regions, groups, artists, mediums or more);
3. Employing non-traditional strategies of investigation and collaboration;
4. Engaging with timely disciplinary or other practical, methodological, and theoretical issues, questions, and challenges, including the future of the field and its continuity.

Applications for the inaugural award cycle will open in Fall 2026, with submission deadlines and application materials to be announced at that time. Applications will be due in early 2027. All updates and communications regarding the grant will be shared through ACASA’s website, ACASA social media channels, and member email announcements. Those interested in joining ACASA may visit the website for membership information.

ACASA Grant for Innovative Early Dissertation Research is a donor-funded initiative. It has been launched by Marla C. Berns, former ACASA President and ACASA Leadership Awardee, in honor of her mentor Professor Arnold Rubin, whose research and ideas advanced innovation and risk in the development of African art history. Berns’ outright gift along with a $5,000 matching challenge will initiate an effort to secure funding from other ACASA members. If you wish to help support the future of this new ACASA research initiative please contact Amanda M. Maples, ACASA President (president@acasaonline.org) or Caroline Bastian, Arts Administrator and Project Manager (bastian@acasaonline.org).

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The Art Institute of Chicago is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for a three-year (2026-2029) Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Curatorial Fellowship in the department of Arts of Africa.

The fellow will work with the department to advance new avenues of research and collection development focusing on artistic traditions grounded in Africa’s Islamic heritage, interrogating the boundaries of the field and the ways in which the category of Islamic art is defined.

The successful candidate will hold an advanced degree (Master’s level or beyond) in art history, Islamic studies, Middle Eastern studies, African studies, history, anthropology, or a closely related field with a strong research focus on Islamic art produced on the African continent. The full position description and requirements can be found here.

To ensure the fullest possible consideration, applicants should apply by Friday, February 27, 2026.

News Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2025

Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA) Awarded $350,000 Grant to Strengthen Organizational Capacity, Sustainability, and Global Collaboration

The Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA) has received a $350,000 General Operating Support grant from the Mellon Foundation, marking a transformative investment in the organization’s continued growth, capacity building, and leadership in advancing scholarship, ethical museum practices, and artistic exchange in African art studies.

As the only professional organization based in the United States dedicated to the study of African arts, ACASA has, for more than four decades, supported scholars, artists, curators, and museum professionals across the world. This new three-year award builds on ACASA’s prior Mellon-funded capacity-building initiatives (2022–2025), ensuring sustained administrative and strategic development while expanding global engagement and fostering ethical stewardship of African art collections.

Grant-Supported Initiatives

The Mellon Foundation’s support will enable ACASA to:

• Sustain key administrative leadership by continuing the role of an Arts Administrator/Project Manager to oversee strategic planning, governance, and event delivery.
• Host the 20th Triennial Symposium on African Art in Rabat, Morocco (July 2027) in collaboration with Université Mohammed V, expanding ACASA’s global footprint and fostering cross-continental dialogue.
• Launch a Provenance Research Training Workshop Program in partnership with leading museums to strengthen ethical research capacity and transparency.
• Partner with Matrix at MSU to support the “Making United States African Art Collections Accessible and Visible” (MUSAA) digital initiative — an aggregator connecting users, especially those based in Africa, with data on African artworks in U.S. collections.
• Create a long-term sustainability plan in partnership with nonprofit consultants to diversify funding streams and ensure ACASA’s financial independence.

These initiatives align with the Mellon Foundation’s commitment to supporting historically under-resourced organizations and advancing new models that reflect a holistic approach to social and cultural change.

Please direct inquiries to ACASA President Amanda M. Maples at president@acasaonline.org.

About the Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA)

The Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA) is the leading U.S.-based professional organization dedicated solely to the study and promotion of African and African Diaspora arts. Founded in 1981, ACASA’s mission is to foster greater understanding of African material and expressive culture in all its myriad forms and to encourage ongoing collaboration among artists, scholars, curators, museum professionals, students, and global communities. Through its core initiatives—including the Triennial Symposium on African Art, awards for teaching, curatorial and publication excellence, webinars, museum- and artist-centric resources, and its Collaboration, Collections, and Restitution Best Practices for North American Museums Holding African Objects (CCRBP) document—ACASA creates dynamic forums for exchange, supports the ethical stewardship and visibility of African art, and advances equity, access, and dialogue in the field. For more information about the organization, its activities, and its global membership, visit www.acasaonline.org.

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The Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is now accepting applications for senior, visiting senior, and postdoctoral fellowships that begin in 2026. These residential appointments support research in the history, theory, and criticism of the visual arts and related disciplines of any period or geographical area.

Learn more about each opportunity, their requirements, and their deadlines here: https://www.nga.gov/research/casva/fellowships.html

See Candidate’s Full Statements and Access Voting Portal

Voting for new members of the Board of Directors is open through 19 August 2025. ACASA members in good standing (with active memberships) are eligible to vote. Election results will be communicated via membership email.

Five elected candidates will serve for an approximately 3-year term as Members-at-Large (ending ASA 2028). The current board will appoint a President–Elect/VP from the elected candidates (to be ratified electronically by the membership) who will succeed Amanda M. Maples as President at the end of her term of office (Triennial 2027). For more information regarding the structure and duties of the board, please consult the by-laws.

Position Description:
Members-at-large are full members of the ACASA Board of Directors. Duties include: attending meetings and participating in board deliberations; serving on committees as needed; and fulfilling vacant board member roles or other duties as assigned.
Empty board positions looking to be filled include Vice President/President-Elect, Treasurer-Elect, Website Editor, and two Members-At-Large.

ACASA Board Candidates 2025–2028:

• Olayemi Tosin Ajayi
• Olaoluwa Ayokunmi
• Delinda Collier
• Paul Cooper
• Alice Korkor Ebeheakey
• Aindrea Emelife
• Blaise Gundu Gbaden
• Kiagho Kilonzo
• Gontse Mathabathe
• Ashley V. Miller
• Olusegun Quadri

You can find the candidates’ statements, CVs, and the link to the voting portal here: https://www.acasaonline.org/2025-board-election/

All nominations due July 21, 2025

The ACASA Board of Directors is looking to fill five open board positions for the ASA 2025-2027 Term:

1. Vice President/President-Elect
2. Treasurer-Elect
3. Website Editor
4. Member at Large
5. Member at Large

All nominees must be members in good standing of ACASA (must have an active membership). In addition to their assigned position, each Board member serves on committees during their 3-year term and participates in regular board meetings. Please note that nominees do not apply to a specific board position, but encourage nominees to include their preferred positions in their statement of intent. Following the general election, the Board will hold an internal election to designate one new member as Vice President/Future President, as indicated in the bylaws, and assign the remaining board positions accordingly. All elected nominees must be willing and ready to serve as ACASA Vice President/President-Elect.

All nominations are due July 21, 2025. Submit your nominations through the link below.

Nomination Form

The ACASA Board Elections Committee will contact nominees by email. Nominees who accept their nomination must submit a short bio, short statement of intent including interested position(s), and a 4-page (max) CV by 4 August 2025.

Members may nominate another ACASA member or themself for one of these positions.

If you have any questions, please email Caroline Bastian Retcher, ACASA Admin, at bastian@acasaonline.org