2025 a2ru Conference: “Creative Futures: Driving Interdisciplinary Innovation Through the Arts”
About the Conference & Host
A2ru’s next annual conference will take place October 23-25, 2025 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This will be an in-person conference. Conference activities will begin at 9am Thursday, October 23 and conclude by 1pm on Saturday, October 25. A full schedule will be available in July.
The a2ru national conference is an opportunity for practitioners and researchers from across higher education to share innovations and perspectives in the arts. a2ru advances the full range of arts- and design-integrative research, curricula, programs, and creative practice to acknowledge, articulate, and expand the vital role of higher education in our global society. a2ru’s work, in partnership with an international network of leading higher education institutions, allies, and partners, envisions a world in which universities—students, faculty, and leaders—explore, embed, and integrate the arts in everyday practice and research.
Image above: Ho-Chunk banners are pictured hanging between the building columns of Bascom Hall at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The three-paneled banners, entitled Seed to Seed, were created by UW–Madison doctoral student Molli Pauliot and professors Marianne Fairbanks and Stephen Hilyard. (Drone photo by Jason Weiss / University Communications)
The Theme
This year’s theme, “Creative Futures: Driving Interdisciplinary Innovation Through the Arts,” explores how future-thinking in the arts can reimagine and redefine disciplines, collaboration, and the academy to better meet the demands of our rapidly shifting technological, ecological, and political landscape. How can we center creativity in the interdisciplinary problem solving needed to meet these current challenges? How can we use the arts to advance our goals of sustainability, social justice, and human flourishing? In this moment, how can the arts illuminate what it means to be a human being?
Featured Speakers
Praised for “combining omnivory and brilliance” (The New York Times), six-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated violinist and composer Curtis Stewart translates stories of American self determination to the concert stage. Tearing down the facade of “classical violinist,” Stewart is in constant pursuit of his musical authenticity, treating art as a battery for realizing citizenship. As a solo violinist, composer, Artistic Director of the American Composers Orchestra, professor at The Juilliard School, and member of award-winning ensembles PUBLIQuartet and The Mighty Third Rail, he realizes a vision to find personal and powerful connections between styles, cultures, and musics. He was awarded a 2025 Sphinx Medal of Excellence in recognition of extraordinary leaders in the classical music field who are transforming lives while addressing systemic obstacles within Black and Latino communities.
He has multiple upcoming albums: Seasons of Change with Bright Shiny Things, Stewart’s solo recomposition of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which incorporates audio interviews from unhoused individuals; an album as featured soloist in world premiere orchestral recordings by Samuel Coleridge Taylor on AVIE Records alongside the National Philharmonic under Michael Repper; and Sphinx Virtuosi’s summer 2025 album, American Mirror, out with Deutsche Grammophon, which features Stewart’s works Drill and Double Down.
As a soloist, Curtis Stewart has been presented by Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cal Performances, Washington Performing Arts, Virginia Arts Festival, The Juilliard School, and the 2022 GRAMMY® Awards, among many others. He has made special appearances with Los Angeles Opera and singer-songwriter Tamar Kali; as curator and guest soloist with Anthony Roth Costanzo and the New York Philharmonic “Bandwagon,” touring performance installations from NYC’s Whitney Museum, Guggenheim Museum, and Museum of Modern Art; to MTV specials with Wyclef Jean; and sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden with Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Seal.
Stewart has been nominated for multiple GRAMMY® Awards for Best Classical Instrumental Solo: his recording of Julia Perry’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra with the Experiential Orchestra (Bright Shiny Things) was nominated in 2025, his album of quarantined song cycles and art videos, Of Power (Bright Shiny Things) was nominated in 2021, and his album of Love. – a tribute to his late mother Elektra Kurtis-Stewart – was nominated in 2023. Stewart’s PUBLIQuartet’s album What Is American (Bright Shiny Things) was nominated for a 2023 GRAMMY® Award as well.
Stewart has been commissioned to compose new solo, chamber, and orchestral works by the Seattle Symphony, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall’s Play/USA, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo and members of the New York Philharmonic, American Composers Orchestra, Juilliard Prep, The Knights, La Jolla Music Society, Sybarite5, the New York Festival of Song, Newport Classical Festival, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Eastman Cello Institute, Orlando Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and more. In 2022, he was named Artistic Director of the American Composers Orchestra, a national organization dedicated to the creation, celebration, performance, and promotion of orchestral music by diverse and innovative American composers.
An enthusiastic educator, Curtis Stewart currently teaches at The Juilliard School and the Perlman Music Program, and for ten years led all levels of music theory and orchestra at the LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and Performing Arts in NYC. Learn more at www.curtisjstewart.com.
Benjamin Wolff has written for Forbes Leadership at Forbes.com since 2017. His column asks, “What can corporate America learn from the arts?” and profiles leaders who have the insight to find value where those worlds come together. Selected stories have been compiled in his new book The Value of Immeasurable Things: Why the Arts—And Artists—are Essential to the Future of Work (2025).
Ben graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from Columbia University and was part of the launch of the Columbia-Julliard program. He received his Master of Music from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
In 1997 he co-founded the Foothills Chamber Music Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. For seven years he led the festival as cellist and co-Artistic Director as it presented a celebrated series of summer performances, lectures and symposia at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, the Southeast Center for Contemporary Art, and the Delta Fine Arts Center.
Ben is also the creator of Galileo’s Muse, a program that dramatizes a unique intersection of art and science. It tells the story of how one of history’s most famous scientists turned to music to solve the mystery of how objects fall. Galileo’s Muse has been featured at institutions such as Harvard University and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
For eighteen years he was Adjunct Professor of Music at Hofstra University and a member of the Hofstra String Quartet. As a cellist, he has performed with ensembles such as Concert Royal, Early Music New York, Sinfonia New York, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, and the American Classical Orchestra.
Ben is past president of the National Speakers Association New York City and was co-chair of the 2018 NSA National Winter Conference. He has delivered innovative programs on creativity, teamwork, and emotional intelligence for companies and organizations such as Cisco, Ingram Micro, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, and Rockefeller University.
For more information,
Please visit: www.bwolff.com
Registration
Registration is now open! Please note: We will not be offering virtual registration options this year.
Member Rates:
Individual: $549
Student: $419
Contingent/Independent Scholar/Artist: $279
Non-Member Rates:
Individual: $659
Student: $529
Contingent/Independent Scholar/Artist: $329
Please contact us at a2ruconnect@umich.edu with questions or to arrange group registrations.
a2ru Conference Registration Policies
Categories
Individual Member
This includes the staff, faculty, and administrators who are currently employed at our member institutions or anyone who has purchased an individual membership.
Individual Non-Member
Full time faculty, staff and administrators at institutions that are not a2ru members.
Students
Students currently enrolled in an associate’s or higher program at any educational institution. If the student has received their PhD, they must currently be enrolled in a post-doctoral program at an educational institution. Part-time students are eligible. Those students who have purchased individual memberships or attend an a2ru member institution qualify for the student member rate.
Contingent/Independent
Contingent faculty, independent artists, performers, and scholars. Staff with no institutional support as well as retired/emeritus faculty are also eligible for this category. Those who have purchased individual memberships or are contingent faculty, staff without institutional support, or retired/emeritus faculty at an a2ru institution qualify for the contingent/independent member rate.
Refunds
Registrations are non-refundable.
Please choose your category carefully when registering. Partial refunds will not be given if you choose the wrong category (non-member if you are a member, etc.).
In the event that a2ru must cancel the conference in its entirety due to circumstances beyond the control of a2ru or venues hosting the event, a2ru may refund the appropriate registration fees to conference registrants. Cancellation of the event in its entirety would only occur for reasons including but not limited to, forces of nature and natural disasters, war, government regulations, sequestration, travel advisories, outbreaks of disease, acts of terrorism or threat of terrorism, disaster, strikes, civil disorder, curtailment of transportation facilities, or other emergencies that make it inadvisable by local, state or federal government officials, illegal or impossible to provide the facilities or to hold the event. Refund requests after the event due to a no-show will be denied.
Under no circumstances will refunds be made for travel expenses related to the conference. Attendees who purchase non-refundable airline tickets do so at their own risk.
Please check with hotels and transportation directly regarding their cancellation policy. Requests to cancel must be made directly with the hotel or transportation company.
Transfers
To an Individual
A one-time transfer of a paid registration (within the same membership category) can be made before October 1. A $30 administrative transfer fee will be assessed. No transfers will be made on or after October 1, 2025. If the original registrant requested or if the new registrant requires accommodations for dietary restrictions or disabilities, please note this in the request. While we will do our best, certain accommodations may not be able to be made for requests conveyed after September 22, 2025.
All transfer requests must be submitted in writing via e-mail to a2ruconnect@umich.edu.
Performances & Other Local Events
Richard Goode Recital
Our friends at the Wisconsin Union Theater have extended a special discount offer to a2ru conference attendees to attend legendary pianist Richard Goode’s all-Beethoven piano recital in the Union’s Shannon Hall on Thursday, October 23 at 7:30pm.
A leader in American piano playing for the last three decades, Richard Goode has made a name for himself through his “thoughtful interpretation and profound understanding, prioritizing artistic insight over mere technical prowess” (Bachtrack). Decades after earning a GRAMMY Award nomination for his recording of the complete Beethoven sonatas, Goode returns to the composer’s final three works in the genre, Opp. 109–111, whose technical demands and artistic challenges continue to move audiences and inspire performers to achieve new heights. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear one of today’s most subtle, pitch-perfect interpreters undertake some of the greatest piano sonatas in the literature.
Wisconsin Science Festival
The a2ru conference overlaps with the 2025 Wisconsin Science Festival, WSF is a statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering, art, and math with activities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests throughout Wisconsin. Founded in 2011 on the premise that art and science go hand-in-hand, the festival has grown from a few days of events in Madison to a full week of activities spanning over a hundred cities.
Here are some highlights happening in Madison during the week of the conference that may be of particular interest to attendees:
Tuesday October 21: Why Sci Variety Show – 7pm, Majestic Theater, Madison
Get ready to rock your curiosity at the Why Sci Variety Show—a high-energy mashup of science talks, artful performances, and live music!
Wednesday, October 22: Crossroads of Ideas – Threading the Story of Earth’s Oldest Rocks – 7pm, Discovery Building, UW-Madison
Join us for a very special Wisconsin Science Festival edition of Crossroads of Ideas, where ancient geology meets modern creativity.
Thursday, October 23: Cosmic Treasures: Chasing Asteroids for Clues To the Origins of Life – 7pm, Discovery Building, UW-Madison
Join Michelle Thaller, former NASA science communicator, for an evening exploring the origins of life. Thaller, in conversation with Eric Wilcots, Dean of the College of Letters & Sciences and Professor in the Dept of Astronomy, will talk about the OSIRIS-REx mission – an audacious project to return a sample from an asteroid. No problem, right? Just chase down a small rock 200 million miles away, traveling literally faster than a speeding bullet, vacuum up a sample of its surface, and shoot it back to Earth. The story turned out to be more difficult, dramatic, and rewarding than anyone expected. Join us to find out why we went to so much trouble to bring back an ancient sample of our solar system and what was waiting inside that absolutely blew our minds.
Saturday, October 25 : UW-Madison Campus Open House and The Story of Water Mini-Expo
Explore UW-Madison’s bustling campus with a special, festival open house! Check out several locations on Saturday, October 25th for self-guided tours, hands-on activities and more:
Saturday, October 25: SoundWaves: Atomic Scale – 7:30pm, Hamel Music Center
Gaze into the world of the unimaginably small with an evening exploring the atomic scale. This special SoundWaves event will feature more live music than ever, with the duo of Krakauer & Tagg, featuring brilliant klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer and pianist Kathleen Tagg, performing and explaining what gives klezmer music its characteristic style and sound (it’s all in the scales!).
Thursday October 23-Saturday, October 26 – Wisconsin Book Festival Events
Enjoy STEM-themed book talks over the 4 days of the Book Festival (Oct 23-26) featuring a variety of topics and authors including several related to our theme of Rock and Roll.
UW Art Department Fall Open House
On Saturday, October 25, from 12-3pm, the University of Wisconsin—Madison Art Department hosts their annual Fall Open House. This event is FREE and invites the general public to interact with and celebrate the Art Department.
From 12 to 3 pm, get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of classrooms and art studio labs, watch select demonstrations from many art disciplines, and meet the department’s Master of Fine Arts graduate students as they welcome visitors to stop by their studios in both the Humanities building and Art Lofts.
Locations:
● Humanities Building, 6th and 7th Floors, 455 N Park St: Only one Humanities Building elevator goes to the top 6th and 7th floors. Enter the Humanities building through the open breezeway on the ground floor and go in the doors marked “ART” in large white letters (E01-02) that are nearest to the Chazen Museum’s back entrance (the Chazen is next-door, immediately to the east). In the lobby the stairs and elevator are to the left.
Labs & Graduate Studios: Printmaking, Graphic Design, nodeLab, Art Education, Metals, Sculpture, Furniture/Wood, and Drawing/Painting
● Art Lofts, 111 N Frances St: The Art Lofts building is located to the east next to the Kohl Center.
Labs & Graduate Studios: Ceramics, Papermaking, Glass/Neon, Photography, and Drawing/Painting.
FAQs
Where is registration located?
Registration is located in the lobby of the Chazen Museum of Art (750 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706).
Where will conference events be located?
Most conference sessions will be located at the Chazen Museum of Art and the Hamel Music Center (740 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706), which are right next to each other. Additional conference sessions and events will be held at the Wisconsin Memorial Union (800 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53706), the Humanities Building (455 N Park St, Madison, WI 53706), the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715), and the School of Human Ecology/Nancy Nichols Hall (1300 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706). A map of conference locations with approximate walk times is included in your conference program.
Where should I park?
Please see the Chazen Museum and UW Transportation Services websites for public parking options near the conference events.
What food will be provided?
We will have coffee, tea and pastries. available at registration each morning, and there is a coffee break each day at 10:30. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer will be served at the Thursday afternoon reception at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, and there will be refreshments during the poster/gallery session on Friday afternoon at 3:15. Please note that all catering at a2ru events is vegetarian.
Where should I eat in Madison?
There is a café located in the Chazen Museum of Art lobby, which will be open Thursday 8:30 am-7:00 pm, Friday 8:30 am-7:00 pm, and Saturday 11:00 am-4:30 pm (Please note that hours are subject to change).
The Wisconsin Memorial Union has a wide range of dining options available.
Aldo’s Café and Steenbock’s on Orchard are both located in the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery Building.
Off campus but in close walking distance to conference events, there are a number of restaurants on Madison’s famous State Street.
Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts has a list of downtown dining options. Madison is home to many fine dining options, some of which were included in last week’s New York Times “36 Hours” feature!
Is there a quiet room?
Yes. A quiet room is available to all conference attendees in the Hamel Music Center Conference Room, Room 2185. (Please note that the quiet room will not be available on Thursday between 12-1pm).
Are lactation facilities available?
Yes, there are a number of lactation rooms available across the UW—Madison campus, including in some conference buildings. Please see UW’s Lactation Room Map for more details.
If I have questions prior to or during the conference, who should I contact?
Please email us at a2ruconnect@umich.edu with questions. During the conference, you can also stop by the registration desk in the Chazen Museum of Art Lobby with questions.
Travel and Lodging
As this year’s conference coincides with UW’s family weekend, we strongly recommend booking hotel accommodations and flights as soon as possible.
Local Hotels with Group Rates for a2ru Conference Attendees
a2ru has negotiated group rates at three Madison area hotels:
1) Residence Inn Madison West/Middleton
8400 Market Streetm Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
Rate: $159/night (Through October 7)
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 21 minutes
Public Transportation Time to Conference Registration: 37 minutes
Booking link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1748523757612&key=GRP&phoenix=true
2) Courtyard Madison East
2502 Crossroads Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53718
Rate: $125/night (through September 22)
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 21 minutes
Public Transportation Time to Conference Registration: 44 minutes
Booking Link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1747946530325&key=GRP&guestreslink2=true&app=resvlink
3) Best Western Plus InnTowner Madison
2424 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53726-3811
Rate: $179/night (through October 2)
Walking Time to Conference Registration: 34 minutes
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 9 minutes
Public Transportation to Conference Registration: 12 minutes
Booking Link: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.50082.html?groupId=5P0UG5S3
Other Recommended Local Hotels
a2ru and our conference hosts at UW—Madison recommend these area hotels, though we do not have group rates available for conference attendees.
Graduate By Hilton Madison
601 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53703
Walking Time to Conference Registration: 7 minutes
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 4 minutes
Website
The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club
1 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53703
Walking Time to Conference Registration: 16 minutes
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 4 minutes
Public Transit Time to Conference Registration: 10 minutes
The Edgewater
1001 Wisconsin Place, Madison, WI 53703
Walking Time to Conference Registration: 15 minutes
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 5 minutes
Public Transit Time to Conference Registration: 8 minutes
Hilton Garden Inn Madison Downtown
770 Regent Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53715
Walking Time to Conference Registration: 10 minutes
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 4 minutes
DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown
525 W Johnson St, Madison, WI 53703
Walking Time to Conference Registration: 8 minutes
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 4 minutes
Hampton Inn & Suites Madison Downtown
440 W Johnson St, Madison, WI 53703
Walking Time to Conference Registration: 9 minutes
Driving Time to Conference Registration: 3 minutes
Public Transportation to Conference Registration: 6 minutes
Airport
The closest airport to the UW campus is Dane County Regional Airport (MSN), approximately a 15-minute drive from the center of conference activities.
Sponsors
