PRAXIS 2026 is an international conference and open day on creative arts research organised by the Centre for Research, Creative Work, and Knowledge Dissemination (CRCKD) at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA), Sri Lanka.

The conference focuses on how artistic and creative practices can generate knowledge, contribute to communities, preserve cultural heritage, and create new ways of thinking through art.

PRAXIS 2026 brings together:

• Academics
• Artists
• Researchers
• Performers
• Designers
• Filmmakers
• Community practitioners
• Students
• Independent creators

The conference includes:

• Research presentations
• Performances
• Exhibitions
• Installations
• Workshops
• Lecture-demonstrations
• Community-based projects

PRAXIS 2026 functions as both an academic conference and a creative platform, encouraging dialogue between artistic practice, research, community engagement, and interdisciplinary innovation.

PRAXIS 2026 is organised by the:

Centre for Research, Creative Work, and Knowledge Dissemination (CRCKD),
University of the Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA), Sri Lanka.

The conference is developed as part of UVPA’s commitment to strengthening artistic research, practice-led inquiry, creative knowledge production, and international academic collaboration.

No.

PRAXIS 2026 welcomes both:

• Traditional academic research
• Practice-led and practice-based research

This means participants may contribute through:

• Research papers
• Performances
• Films
• Exhibitions
• Workshops
• Creative processes
• Community art projects
• Lecture-performances
• Hybrid interdisciplinary formats

The conference values both scholarly and creative approaches and encourages dialogue between theory, practice, and experimentation.

Practice-based research is a form of research where creative practice itself becomes part of the research process and knowledge production.

In simple terms, your artistic work is not only an artwork — it also becomes a way of investigating ideas, methods, culture, society, identity, movement, sound, memory, performance, and artistic processes.

Examples

• A dance performance exploring ritual movement traditions
• A theatre production examining social trauma
• A music composition investigating indigenous sound practices
• A visual art installation exploring migration and memory
• A film project documenting disappearing cultural practices

In this approach, the artwork itself becomes research evidence and contributes to new knowledge.

Usually, the creative work is accompanied by:

• A short written explanation
• Reflection
• Documentation
• Exegesis
• Research framework

PRAXIS 2026 is designed to help artists and practitioners understand and develop these research approaches within internationally recognised academic and creative frameworks.

Yes — absolutely.

PRAXIS 2026 is specifically designed to support practitioners who may not traditionally identify themselves as academic researchers.

If you are:

• A performer
• Director
• Musician
• Dancer
• Visual artist
• Designer
• Filmmaker
• Community practitioner

Your creative practice itself may already contain significant research value.

The conference encourages artists and practitioners to transform creative processes into research frameworks and scholarly contributions.

PRAXIS 2026 welcomes:

• Academics and researchers
• Artists and performers
• Undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Independent practitioners
• Community artists
• Designers and filmmakers
• Musicians, dancers, actors, and visual artists
• Interdisciplinary collaborators
• International participants

Participants do not need to be attached to a university or academic institution. Independent practitioners and community-based artists are strongly encouraged to participate.

PRAXIS 2026 welcomes diverse modes of artistic and academic presentation. Participants may choose conventional research formats, creative practice presentations, or hybrid interdisciplinary approaches.

You may present through:

• Research papers
• Performances
• Practice-based projects
• Exhibitions
• Installations
• Lecture-performances
• Demonstrations
• Workshops
• Film screenings
• Community practice case studies
• Hybrid presentations

Both physical and online participation are possible.

⇓ Below are the accepted presentation categories with examples to help participants better understand how creative work can function as research.

6.1. Research Papers

Traditional academic presentations based on theoretical, historical, analytical, or methodological research.

Examples

• A paper analysing contemporary Sri Lankan theatre practices
• Research on indigenous dance traditions and cultural identity
• A study on digital technology in music composition
• Audience reception studies in contemporary performance

Format

• Oral presentation
• PowerPoint or visual support
• Approximately 15–20 minutes
• Full paper publication pathway available

6.2. Performances

Live artistic presentations where performance itself forms part of the research inquiry or creative investigation.

Examples

• A devised theatre production exploring memory and migration
• Contemporary dance work based on ritual movement
• Experimental music performance using traditional instruments
• Spoken word or interdisciplinary performance art

Can Include

• Theatre
• Dance
• Music
• Performance art
• Interdisciplinary live works

Participants should explain:

• The artistic concept
• Research or process methodology
• Relation to conference themes

6.3. Practice-Based Research Projects

Creative projects where artistic practice becomes the primary research method and outcome.

Examples

• A film project documenting disappearing folk traditions
• Costume design research exploring cultural symbolism
• Choreographic research based on body memory
• Community mural projects investigating social narratives

Usually Includes

• Creative work
• Documentation
• Reflection or exegesis
• Research framework

This category is particularly suitable for practitioners transitioning into research-based creative inquiry.

6.4. Exhibitions

Curated displays of creative works presented in gallery or exhibition formats.

Examples

• Photography exhibitions
• Fine art collections
• Multimedia exhibitions
• Digital art projects
• Archival and documentary displays

May Include

• Artist statements
• Research notes
• Visual documentation
• Audience interaction

6.5. Installations

Spatial or immersive artistic works engaging audiences through environment, interaction, sound, media, or performance.

Examples

• Interactive sound environments
• Site-responsive installations
• Projection mapping works
• Sensory and participatory installations
• Mixed-media spatial artworks

Important Information

Participants should provide:

• Spatial requirements
• Technical specifications
• Installation duration
• Setup requirements

6. 6. Lecture-Performances

A combination of academic presentation and live artistic demonstration.

Examples

• Explaining ritual movement while performing excerpts
• A musician demonstrating compositional methods during analysis
• A performer discussing embodied memory through live action
• Hybrid presentations mixing lecture, media, and performance

This format is especially suitable for practice-led researchers.

6.7. Demonstrations

Practical demonstrations of artistic methods, techniques, processes, or tools.

Examples

• Traditional mask-making demonstration
• Live improvisation process
• Digital sound production methods
• Movement training systems
• Puppetry techniques

Demonstrations may be educational, technical, or experimental.

6.8. Workshops

Interactive sessions encouraging participant engagement and collaborative learning.

Examples

• Community theatre workshops
• Embodied movement workshops
• Sound and improvisation sessions
• Creative writing and performance laboratories
• Collaborative art-making activities

Workshops May Focus On

• Process
• Training
• Methodology
• Community participation
• Skill sharing

6.9. Film Screenings

Screenings of films or audiovisual works connected to creative research themes.

Examples

• Experimental short films
• Dance films
• Documentary films
• Video art
• Ethnographic filmmaking
• Practice-research film projects

Participants may also include:

• Director discussions
• Post-screening dialogue
• Research commentary

6. 10. Community Practice Case Studies

Projects demonstrating socially engaged, participatory, or community-based creative practice.

Examples

• Applied theatre projects with rural communities
• Participatory arts and youth engagement
• Community music and healing initiatives
• Art-based environmental activism
• Creative interventions in education or public spaces

This Category Values

• Social impact
• Participation
• Reflection
• Process documentation

6.11. Hybrid Presentations

Presentations combining multiple forms together.

Examples

• Research paper with live performance
• Film screening with installation
• Exhibition with workshop
• Lecture with performance and discussion
• Digital interactive presentation

PRAXIS 2026 strongly encourages interdisciplinary and experimental formats.

Physical and Online Participation

PRAXIS 2026 is a hybrid conference.

Participants may:

• Attend physically at UVPA, Sri Lanka
• Participate online
• Combine physical and digital presentation formats

Certain categories such as exhibitions, performances, and installations may require additional technical coordination.

Start by asking questions such as:

• What am I exploring?
• Why is this work important?
• What methods am I using?
• What cultural, social, or artistic issue does this address?
• What knowledge emerges through this process?

Then describe:

• The concept
• The methodology
• The creative process
• The intended outcome
• The audience or community engagement

At the abstract stage, you only need a clear 300–400 word proposal.

You do not need a fully completed academic paper at the beginning of the submission process.

Yes.

Collaborative and ensemble-based works are strongly welcomed.

You may work with:

• Actors
• Dancers
• Musicians
• Technicians
• Designers
• Community participants
• Researchers

However, the primary applicant should coordinate communication, registration, and submission processes on behalf of the group.

No.

PRAXIS 2026 does not currently provide production funding, artist fees, or financial support for performances and creative productions.

Participants are generally responsible for:

• Production expenses
• Travel
• Accommodation
• Technical preparation

However, the conference will provide:

• An academic and creative presentation platform
• Curated exposure
• Research visibility
• Professional networking opportunities
• Publication pathways
• Documentation and archiving support where possible

Selected works may also receive future institutional visibility and collaborative opportunities.

Accepted works may be included in:

• Conference presentation sessions
• Open Day programmes
• Exhibitions
• Screenings
• Performance showcases
• Conference documentation

Participants may also submit:

• Full papers
• Exegesis
• Reflective writing
• Documentation portfolios

Selected submissions may be considered for:

• Peer-reviewed conference proceedings
• Creative research publications
• Future journal publications

An exegesis is a reflective written document accompanying a creative work.

It explains:

• The research intention
• The methodology
• The creative process
• The theoretical or conceptual framework
• The contribution to knowledge

An exegesis is not simply a description of the artwork. It critically reflects on how the creative work functions as research and contributes to artistic and scholarly discourse.

Yes.

PRAXIS 2026 encourages mentorship, dialogue, and research development.

Participants may seek guidance regarding:

• Research formulation
• Practice-based methodologies
• Abstract writing
• Creative research framing
• Documentation approaches
• Proposal development

Further workshops, guidelines, and support materials may be released through official conference channels.

Participants are also encouraged to check the programme brochure for the Research Dating sessions scheduled for 25–26 May 2026, where academic peers and practitioners will offer consultation and proposal guidance. See more updates on the web.

Yes.

At the abstract stage, participants are proposing a project, research direction, or creative inquiry.

You do not need to complete the final work before submitting your abstract.

Yes.

Advanced undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and early-career artists are encouraged to participate individually or collaboratively with supervisors, peers, or research teams.

Submissions may be presented in:

• English
• Sinhala

However, abstracts must include English content for international review, peer evaluation, and publication purposes.

Key Dates

• Call for Papers Launch: 2 April 2026
• Abstract Submission Deadline: 05 June 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: 5 July 2026
• Final Submission Deadline: 20 August 2026
• Conference Dates: 16–18 September 2026

Open Day: 18 September 2026

PRAXIS 2026 is a hybrid conference.

Participants may join:

• Physically
• Online
• Through hybrid formats depending on the presentation category

Official Website

https://vpa.ac.lk/uvpa-praxis-2026/

Email

praxis2026@vpa.ac.lk

Telephone

+94 11 202 2782