2025 Emerging Creatives Student Summit: “Resonate: Making Waves”
About Emerging Creatives
a2ru is thrilled to announce that Georgia Tech will host the 2025 Emerging Creatives Student Summit, taking place March 13-16 in Atlanta.
This year’s theme will be “Resonate: Making Waves.” How can our ideas resonate? Waves can be immediate and intense, like an earthquake; or they can accumulate through reverberations over time, like the actions of 1960s civil rights leaders. Together, we will explore waves–their wake, momentum, and impact. From the atomic to the emotional to the artistic to the cultural to the galactic, how can we make waves today?
Emerging Creatives is a three-day collaborative experience in which students form small cross-disciplinary teams to explore a specific area of the Summit’s theme. Over the course of the event, teams make something that represents their exploration: a syllabus, cookbook, podcast, app, opera, pair of shoes, urban blueprint, pop-up store, musical score, website…the list of possible outcomes is endless.
At Emerging Creatives, students not only envision and create their project; they also take field trips, meet extraordinary interdisciplinary thinkers, practice presenting their work, and exchange ideas about their project with peers and experts. Students also build collaboration skills in micro-workshops with a2ru staff.
Image Above: “Continuing the Conversation”, a public art work on Georgia Tech’s campus by Atlanta sculptor Martin Dawe. It depicts Rosa Parks at age 42 — the year of the Montgomery Bus Boycott — and at age 92, the year she died.
Student Voices from Emerging Creatives 2025
“Emerging Creatives allowed me to create a space for exploring my creativity and get inspired by the other fellows. It was a great experience that I wish I could repeat again and bring to my university.” –Luisa Chavarria, Michigan State University
“Resonance with passionate people that could not be experienced anywhere else.” –Jieun Lim, Boston University
“The best interdisciplinary event ever!!” –Lisa Abena Osei, University of Maryland
“Emerging Creatives taught me how to advocate for my own ideas while leaving space for other peoples’ contributions in multi-disciplinary projects.” –Jason Zhang, University of Michigan
“The biggest take away from participating in Emerging Creatives, was the awesome people you meet and the journey to a fun and collaborative project you can proudly share!” –Karen Lopez, Texas A&M University
“Don’t expect anything. Go in with an open mind, and be open to any conversation.” –Carter Roberts, Virginia Tech
“It was inspiring to be around so many creative, talented, and hard-working people. Everyone there was a pleasure to meet and I loved getting to hear everybody’s ideas and all of the cool things that they are doing. Trying to realize a project in such a short amount of time, with people from different disciplines and who I had only just met, was an exciting challenge and was incredibly rewarding. I learned a lot about myself and about the process of collaborating. It was an exhausting, whirlwind of an event that I left feeling encouraged and fulfilled. I now want to seek out more people that I don’t know from other disciplines and see what conversations and, potentially, what exciting new work might come of it.” –Richie Arndorfer, University of Georgia
“Emerging Creatives was an inspiration! It allowed me to think critically about my research and how I can creatively use it to engage the community more so that our work resonates even when our names fade.” –Talitha Pam, University of Michigan
“The Emerging Creatives Student Summit was an amazing experience! I loved getting to know other students across arts-integrated disciplines across the country. During our time, I was inspired by how others thought and worked, discovered new ways to understand the intersection of arts and technology, and found new collaborators for various projects. I would not have thought that a biomedical engineer, an industrial designer, nor a public historian had anything in common professionally — but our interests and skills made a dream project come to life!” –Marjorie Justine Antonio, University of Maryland, College Park
“Emerging Creatives was such an interesting way to spend my weekend. I have never been in a room with such versatile, driven, and passionate people before. I feel like my eyes have been open to the ways in which people can be unique and I just loved discovering cool tid-bits about other people.” –Anna Boezi, Georgia Tech
“The Emerging Creatives Summit is great for meeting people from all walks of life and progression in their professional careers. As a student nearing the end of my undergraduate degree, I feel inspired and hopeful for ways I can continue to practice my art while pursuing a career in science. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive– as long as I prioritize my desire to create, it is possible. I also feel grateful to have shared space with such open-minded, curious people. Keep that with you as you meet others and make the most of the weekend!” –Adina Shaikh, University of Wisconsin-Madison
“It was such an honor to attend the a2ru Emerging Creatives conference. I felt so energized learning and collaborating with people from different disciplines.” –Ruben Reynoso, The University of Arizona
“If you were chosen and presented the opportunity to attend a2ru, it would be stupid to refuse.” –Jason Salazar Tobar, RIT
Emerging Creatives Challenge Grant
a2ru invites Emerging Creatives Summit teams to submit proposals for an a2ru
Challenge Grant, awarded to interdisciplinary team projects that address a real-world
problem or challenge.
Project teams apply for funding to realize their project as well as funding to present at the a2ru 2025 national conference.
Deadline: Friday, May 2, by 5:00 pm EST
Nominating Students
a2ru member institutions are eligible to nominate up to 3 students to attend the 2025 Emerging Creatives Student Summit. Graduate students and undergraduate students in their junior year or above are eligible. One representative from each institution should submit the names of the nominated students via the form below no later than February 17, 2025. Students will be admitted on a rolling basis after February 1 until the event is at capacity.
In order to maintain the interdisciplinary nature of Emerging Creatives, a2ru asks that the students nominated by each institution represent a broad range of disciplines both within and outside the arts. The contributions of students from disciplines in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, business and other fields are essential to the success of the Summit.
Funding Opportunities for Students
For this year’s Emerging Creatives, a2ru can offer a number of $250 Travel Grants, which are open to all participants, as well as 2 $1000 Scholar Grants, which are designed to support the participation of those from historically underrepresented groups. Campus representatives can indicate on the nomination form linked below which student(s) they would like to be considered for Travel Grants or Scholar Awards.
Travel and Lodging
Students should make travel arrangements so they are available to participate in Emerging Creatives activities starting at 4pm on Thursday, March 13 (registration will open at 3pm) and ending on Sunday, March 16 at 1:30pm. Travel and hotel arrangements are the responsibility of the participating students and/or their home institutions.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) serves Atlanta. Atlanta’s MARTA train system connects the airport to the Georgia Tech campus and to recommended hotels (below) via the Red or Gold Line: North Avenue Station.
a2ru and Georgia Tech have secured room blocks for Emerging Creatives participants at two hotels. Both are near the Georgia Tech campus where Emerging Creatives activities take place.
Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel: 866 W. Peachtree Street.
$189/night single or double, $199/triple, $209/quad; room rate based on availability (first come, first serve) and does not include taxes and fees; parking $50/night; cut-off date extended to Feb 28, 2025.
Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center: 800 Spring Street NW.
$209/night single or double, $219/triple, $229/quad; room rate based on availability (first come, first serve) and does not include taxes, fees, or parking; cut-off date extended to Feb 21, 2025.
FAQ
- What do I (or my school) pay for?
- Travel: planes, transportation between airports and destinations, any additional car-fare
- Lodging. We have recommended hotels, but you can stay where you choose.
- Food: any meals not provided by a2ru
- Are meals provided?
- The following meals will be provided as part of the program:
- March 13: dinner
- March 14 and 15: coffee and continental breakfast (students are responsible for lunch and dinner on your own)
- March 16: coffee and continental breakfast, lunch
- In keeping with a2ru’s commitment to sustainability, all provided meals are largely plant-based. Some meat options will also be available.
- The following meals will be provided as part of the program:
- Where will Emerging Creatives take place and how do I get there?
- Emerging Creatives will take place on and near the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta, Georgia. Planning and paying for transportation to and from the summit are the responsibility of the student and/or their institution. See Travel and Lodging for planning your trip.
- Emerging Creatives registration and opening day activities will take place at the Krone Engineering Biosystems Building, 950 Atlantic Drive. All activities for the remainder of the summit will take place at the Coda Building, 756 West Peachtree Street. Both sites are on or adjacent to Georgia Tech’s campus, and both sites are less than a mile from recommended hotels. Students are responsible for transportation to and from summit activities.
- On Friday, March 14, we will visit the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA). MODA is just over a mile from the Coda Building. Students are responsible for transportation and can choose to walk as a group or use ride-share.
- Where will I stay?
- Lodging is the responsibility of the student and/or their institution. a2ru and Georgia Tech have secured room blocks for Emerging Creatives participants at two recommended hotels, but students may stay where you wish. Both recommended hotels are near the Georgia Tech campus where Emerging Creatives activities take place. See Travel and Lodging to book a room in one of these blocks.
- What are we going to do at Emerging Creatives?
- meet other Emerging Creatives from across the country
- explore the theme of “Resonate: Making Waves” through a panel discussion with inspiring Georgia Tech scholars, a visit to Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), and hands-on art-making and discussion
- form small teams to go deeper into an aspect of the theme that interests you
- brainstorm and prototype new ideas
- get feedback on your prototype from peers and mentors
- present your prototype in a Fair on the final day
- learn strategies to make interdisciplinary collaboration more fun and effective
- What should I wear?
- We recommend casual and comfortable clothing. Some students like to dress more professionally for their final presentation, but this is not necessary.
- How should I approach Emerging Creatives?
- With excitement about sharing your insight and ideas, and with curiosity and openness to the ideas that mentors and other students bring to the summit.
- What should I do if I still have questions?
- Ask us! Email vstanich@umich.edu
Schedule
Thursday, March 13: Krone Engineering Biosystems Building (950 Atlantic Drive)
- 3:00pm Registration opens
- 4:00 Welcome and kickoff
- 4:30 EcoCommons tour
- 5:15 Interdisciplinary panel discussion
- 6:00 Dinner provided
- 7:00 Creative collaboration
- 8:00 Finish
Friday, March 14: Coda Building, 9th floor atrium (756 West Peachtree Street)
- 8:30-8:45am Arrive
- 8:45 Coffee and light breakfast provided
- 9:00 Kickoff and Coda tour
- 9:30 Team formation
- 10:30 Break
- 11:00 Get to know your team
- 11:30 Brainstorming 1&2
- 12:15pm Lunch on your own
- 1:15 Brainstorming 3
- 2:15 Work session
- 3:15 Break
- 3:30 Depart for MODA
- 6:00 Finish
Saturday, March 15: Coda Building, 9th floor atrium (756 West Peachtree Street)
- 8:30-8:45am Arrive
- 8:45 Coffee and light breakfast provided
- 9:00 Kickoff
- 9:15 Work session, with breaks
- 12:00pm Lunch on your own
- 1:00 Feedback sessions
- 2:45 Break
- 3:15 Check-in and work sessions
- 5:30 Finish
Sunday, March 16: Coda Building, 9th floor atrium (756 West Peachtree Street)
- 8:15-8:30am Arrive
- 8:30 Coffee and light breakfast provided
- 8:45 Kickoff
- 9:15 Work session
- 10:15 Break
- 10:30 Project fair
- 12:30pm Lunch provided, wrap up
- 1:30 Finish
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