The Caribbean Studies Association recently shared a call for proposals for the Rex Nettleford Arts Conference (RNAC) 2025, which takes place at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (at 1 Arthur Wint Drive) in Kingston, Jamaica. The deadline for submission of proposals is Sunday, August 31, 2025.
Description: Positioned at the crossroads of tradition and possibility, the Rex Nettleford Arts Conference (RNAC) 2025 heralds a cultural awakening as the Edna Manley College approaches its golden jubilee.
Embracing Professor Rex Nettleford’s transformative philosophy of “Inward Stretch, Outward Reach,” we recognise culture not as a static subject for scholarly contemplation, but as a living, breathing, dynamic force that simultaneously preserves, disrupts, and reimagines our collective experience.
At this critical juncture marked by seismic geopolitical shifts, Caribbean artistic expressions offer vital perspectives that illuminate pathways through uncertainty, while contributing to a more inclusive global humanism.
The Caribbean now stands at the center of worldwide conversations on reparative justice and humanistic values yet faces unprecedented challenges from artificial intelligence (AI), and digital technologies that question the very artistic intelligence that has historically fuelled Caribbean cultural identity and resilience.
RNAC 2025 responds by convening diverse voices—artists, cultural practitioners, scholars, researchers, policy makers and activists—to transcend theoretical boundaries and engage in transformative dialogue about our shared future.
This convergence simultaneously honours our rich cultural inheritance while boldly charting new artistic territories. By deepening our connection to indigenous knowledge systems while fearlessly engaging with global conversations, we demonstrate how Caribbean arts and humanities can shape more inclusive, resilient societies.
The conference provides a platform for diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to contemporary challenges through a distinctly Caribbean lens, ultimately enriching a global humanism centered on care, respect, and collective well-being.
In the spirit of Nettleford’s legacy, we invite proposals that actively make culture, rather than merely discuss it—work that deepens our connection to our roots while extending our influence in reshaping global humanistic values.
Through five interconnected thematic pathways, we will explore the multifaceted dimensions of Caribbean artistic intelligence and its vital role in our rapidly changing world.
Submission Deadline: Sunday, August 31, 2025
For more information on submissions, go to https://sites.google.com/emc.edu.jm/rnacbiennial2025/call-for-proposals
Also see https://emc.edu.jm/
[Image above: Portrait of Rex Nettleford by Jamaican artist Michael Brooks; commissioned by The Rhodes Trust. See https://uwimuseum.wordpress.com/2016/06/14/special-exhibit-nettleford-portrait-for-the-week/Brooks]