Art, Tradition, Environment: Folklore in place
13th to 18th September 2026
Xining & Rebgong, Qinghai, China
Conference call for papers: 'Art, tradition, environment: Folklore in place'
13-18 September 2026, Rebgong/Tongren, Qinghai, China
Theme:
Museums are often seen as the place for art. From so-called 'high art' to 'folk art', it remains common to exhibit and interpret artworks in isolation from the environmental and often cultural contexts in which they were created. Even the concept of Intangible Cultural Heritage, by building upon a sense of world heritage, suggests the possibility of appreciating art out of place.
This small academic conference explores the mutual importance of (1) place and (2) the creation of art and the maintenance of artistic traditions. We emphasise aesthetic practices as a product of interactions between culture and environment, which give rise to localised traditions. How does the natural environment influence culture and, as a result, art? How do artistic traditions contribute to the construction of cultural landscapes by inspiring alterations to and re-envisionings of the natural environment? How do geographical factors (e.g. climate, availability of natural materials, location relative to other cultural communities) impact the ways in which people create art? How is art practiced, displayed, and engaged with in place-sensitive ways both inside and outside museums.
The conference takes a broad definition of 'art' and considers all kinds of art genres from around the world, though it is expected that most presentations will concern visual arts. Of special interest are presentations concerning folk culture, vernacular traditions, and art that forms a part of a community's daily life or spiritual practices. The conference mixes scholarly presentations, discussions, and field trips. All presentations must reflect upon the connection between art and place as well as the situatedness of art within cultural traditions. The conference will occur in close engagement and collaboration with Qinghai's Tibetan scholars, artists, tradition bearers, and communities.
Maria Fabricius Hansen (University of Copenhagen) and Sally Pirie (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) will serve as plenary speakers.
Conference locations:
Conference presentations will be held at the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum in Xining, the multiethnic capital of Qinghai Province in Northwest China. The Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum preserves, communicates, and promotes the cultural heritage of the Tibetan people, one of China's 56 recognised ethnicities. Delegates will also have the opportunity to explore the markets and alleys of the old city, which is strongly influenced by Hui Muslim culture, as well as to visit the mountainside Tulou Daoist temple. Following the presentation days, we will have a study fieldtrip to the small town of Rebgong (Tongren in Mandarin), situated in a mountain valley on the banks of the Yellow River. Rebgong grew up around a number of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, including Rongwo Monastery (founded 1341) and Wutun Monastery (founded 1385). Rebgong's various monastic and village communities ultimately developed distinct artistic traditions within such fields as thangka painting, architecture, sculpture (in wood, clay, yak butter), and embroidery. In 2009, these so-called Regong Arts were added to UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. During the fieldtrip, delegates will visit various of Rebgong's nature, cultural, and religious sites, including its famous monasteries, villages, and art schools.
Because the conference takes place in remote areas of China, delegates should be prepared to stay at local (non-luxury) hotels and to eat local Tibetan and Hui Muslim food throughout the conference.
Schedule:
13 September 2026: Delegates arrive in Xining.
14-15 September 2026: Conference presentations, visits to Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum exhibits, and explorations around Xining.
16-17 September 2026: Group travels to and explores Rebgong.
18 September 2026: Group returns to Xining in the early afternoon, and the conference concludes.
Abstract submission:
If you wish to give a presentation at the conference, please submit your proposal via the abstract submission form:
Abstracts should be 150-200 words long and must not include citations or references. After submission, your proposal will be reviewed, and the organisers will respond with a decision as soon as possible. The earlier you submit your proposal, the earlier you will receive the decision. All presentations will be in English. The final deadline for abstracts is 28 February 2026.
Publication opportunity:
This conference is hosted by the Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum, sponsored by South China University of Technology's School of Foreign Languages, and organised in association with Island Dynamics (Beewolf Press). Presenters are strongly encouraged to submit papers for consideration for a special section of the peer reviewed, non-fee charging open access journal 'Folk, Knowledge, Place' (https://folkknowledgeplace.org) on the theme of 'Art, tradition, environment'. Papers will need to match the journal's theme and scope. The deadline for special section article submissions is 31 May 2026. The aim is to allow papers that successfully pass peer review to be published in advance of the conference itself. Although we strongly encourage article submissions, it is not necessary to submit a paper to the journal or to have a paper accepted for publication in order to participate in the conference. To learn more about journal publication, please contact co-editor-in-chief Adam Grydehøj:
Registration:
Conference registration will include all travel, accommodation, meals, and admission tickets during the conference (from arrival in Xining on 13 September until return to Xining on 18 September). Registration does not include travel costs and arrangements to and from Xining. We will assist delegates who require additional hotel nights in Xining before or after the conference and can book extra room nights for them for a fee of 80 Singapore dollars per night. The deadline for early registration is 15 April 2026, and the early registration fee is 1050 Singapore dollars, after which the fee will rise by 200 Singapore dollars. The final deadline for registration is 31 May 2026. To register, fill out the registration form:
Within the following few days, you will be sent an invoice (payable by credit or debit card) using the information included in the registration form. Payment of the registration fee is due within one month after you have received the invoice.
Travel:
Xining can be reached by plane from many major Chinese cities. Citizens of many European and Asian countries now have the possibility of visa-free travel to China for up to 30 days. Citizens of other countries may need to apply for a visa. The conference organisers will provide the necessary documents for your visa application, but the visa application itself will be your responsibility.
Co-convenors
Adam Grydehøj (South China University of Technology)
Ping Su (South China University of Technology)
Host
Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum
Sponsor
South China University of Technology's School of Foreign Languages
In association with
Island Dynamics (Beewolf Press)
Enquiries: agrydehoj@islanddynamics.org
