While art history is understood typically as a discipline in which individuals produce publications that are aimed primarily at other scholars, an increasing numbers of art historians are seeking to broaden our understanding of art historical praxis through socially engaged art history. Typically produced within and between social groups over an extended period of time, socially engaged art history seeks to engender a productive dialogue regarding social and/or political issues and to foster resilient and sustainable communities. Such practices work to establish meaningful interactions within and between communities as they address issues including difference, division, and inequality in society. Because these practices often remain outside of scholarly debate, our intent is to consider their significance through discussion of the theoretical issues, sharing of specific examples, and consideration of their potential role in the discipline’s future. An examination of socially engaged art history is especially relevant today as art historians are reevaluating their practices and finding new relevance in the face of university and museum budget cuts and increasing emphasis on STEM curricula across the US.

We are seeking two different kinds of proposals for an edited volume on the practice and theory of socially engaged art history: short case studies and essays.

1) Short case studies (2,000-4,000 words) will provide concrete descriptions of the kinds of art historical work that individuals are doing that they identify as socially engaged. Case studies should highlight and draw attention to the rigorous work that is being done in this area, and in so doing provide potential models or inspiration to others.

2) The essays (6,000-8,000 words) should explore the theoretical framework from which engaged practices emerge.

By presenting the projects together in an edited volume, the publication will serve to provide disciplinary recognition to the socially engaged work of the contributors as well as others doing similar work. We encourage the submission of multiple proposals.

This collection will be submitted to Palgrave Macmillian.

We are seeking proposals from anyone who sees their work as falling into the category of engaged scholarship in the discipline of art history. This includes, but is not limited to, instructors of art history, curators, critics, and museum educators.

Please send 400-word proposals and a CV as electronic attachments (Word documents) to Cindy Persinger (persingercalu.edu) and Azar Rejaie (rejaieauhd.edu). The deadline for submitting proposals is June 1, 2018. The deadline for completed papers will be determined later.