PALS 2027 SUMMIT
About this Event
In PALS, we believe it’s vital that creative education places sustainability at its core.
We prepare artists and designers to lead in shaping a more sustainable future.
That’s why we host the PALS Summit, an in-person and virtual gathering for faculty and academic staff to connect with the broader PALS ecosystem. Participants leave the Summit with ideas, tools, and connections we can bring back to our home institutions to advance sustainability within our schools’ curriculum, programming, and materials-contributing to industry-wide impact.
RSVP - Be Here Now
The ground is shifting under our feet. How do we center our practice when the terrain is constantly in flux? This year’s theme, RSVP - Be Here Now, will explore ideas around resiliency, sustainability, values, and place-based learning as a way forward.
Participants will gain:
- Personal and professional development opportunities – learning, skill-building, and networking experiences
- Exposure to PALS activities and initiatives – such as the ongoing working groups, PALS Presents events, and potential funding opportunities- allowing participants to get involved in the broader PALS partnership beyond just attending the summit.
- Connection to the PALS community – PALS is the people that show up. The summit allows participants to engage with and become part of the PALS partner community. This community aspect and sense of collaboration is a key benefit of the summit.
JOIN US AT THE SUMMIT !
This year, the PALS Summit begins with a one-day Virtual Summit designed to spark ideas, introduce the year’s themes, and bring the broader PALS community into conversation. The 2.5-day In-Person Summit builds on that foundation through deeper dialogue, hands-on and place-based experiences, collaborative working sessions, and opportunities to advance PALS initiatives together.
Virtual Summit - February 27, 2027
The Virtual Summit serves as a catalyst for the broader Summit experience while also offering a meaningful standalone opportunity to connect with the PALS community. All in-person registrants are also welcome to join any components of the Virtual Summit.
Virtual Registration Deadline: February 20, 2027
Registration Fee: $90
In-person Summit | Otis College of Art and Design & ArtCenter - March 11-13, 2027
A 2.5-day immersive gathering that builds on the Virtual Summit through deeper exchange, place-based learning, collaborative workshops, working sessions, and active engagement with PALS goals and initiatives.
In-Person Registration Deadline: February 5, 2027
Registration Fee: $200 (Includes access to the Virtual Summit)
Meals, gathering spaces and Friday transportation between Otis College to Art Center is included as part of the in person registration.. These low fees have been made possible by the generous support of AICAD (Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design) and the Frankenthaler Foundation.
Attendance Guidelines
The PALS Summit resembles more of a "think tank" than a traditional conference. Key presentations are offered throughout the program. Full attendance at the 1-day Virtual Summit and/or the full 2.5-day is strongly encouraged by all participants. This ensures that each attendee fully benefits from the comprehensive agenda designed to stimulate discourse, introduce actionable themes, facilitate participation in working groups, and enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing among attendees. This commitment to attendance allows the PALS Summit to be co-created by each attendee; we become an active collective learning community imagining and designing a transformational future for sustainability in higher ed art and design.
Lodging
We have secured a block of rooms at Hotel June, adjacent to Otis College of Art and Design. You can book your room HERE
Funding Support
The PALS coordinators are committed to making the Summit accessible and equitable. Funding is available to help offset travel and registration costs, with the goal of supporting as many participants as possible. If you are seeking support, please complete this application.
Learn more about PALS
Feel free to reach out to the PALS Leadership team with any questions: Carolyn Shafer ([email protected]), Natalie Salvador ([email protected]), and Ryan O'Keefe ([email protected])
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 90.00 to USD 200.00
