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.
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?
Registration
Registration is now open! The below Early Bird rates are in effect until June 30; regular rates will go into effect July 1. We will not be offering virtual registration options this year.
Member Rates:
Individual: $499
Student: $369
Contingent/Independent Scholar/Artist: $249
Non-Member Rates:
Individual: $609
Student: $479
Contingent/Independent Scholar/Artist: $299
Please contact us at a2ruconnect@umich.edu with questions or to arrange group registrations.
Please note: Presenter rates will be offered to those whose conference submissions are included in this year’s program; those whose submissions cannot be included will be notified before the early bird rates end.
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
