IDEALABS

Three open Idealabs were conducted in October and November that cut across different thematics: Experimental Pedagogy, Research Creation, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). Over two dozen presenters and over 100 participants assembled in different venues across the Fine Arts to hear about current activity in the Faculty. These brief expositions seeded subsequent group discussions about future space configurations rooted in needs, desires, and realities. Documentation of each Idealab will soon be posted on this website.

FIELDWORK

In early 2019 a robust "in the field" data gathering exercise and public dissemination project led by a team of paid student "Rovers" will take place. Led by MFA student Breanna Shanahan with input from Faculty mentors and architects Ana Maria Llanos of Diamond Schmitt Architects and Dominique Dumont from Concordia Facilities Management, the Fieldworkers will perform three main tasks (1) comb the Faculty to gather data about space needs, (2) focus on specific questions and spatial problematics arising from consultations to develop case study analyses, and (3) respond to and communicate publicly "findings" from the field using a variety of fine arts methodologies such as photo essays, zines, theatrical re-enactments, speculative fiction, documentary practices, audio or visual reflections, reflection-in-action reports, etc. Results will be presented to the community through event-based Field Reports with documentation posted on this website.
 
Our twelve Rovers are now out working in the field, gathering data, images, sounds and interviews for their projects. They have each been tasked with two projects to work on, which they will present in EV 2.776 on the following dates from noon - 4 p.m.:

• First presentation: Friday, February 15
  
• Second presentation: Friday, March 15
  

MOONSHOT

The final (and fun!) culmination of Faculty activity focused on collective imaginings will be a speculative design charrette in the spring hosted by a guest futurist. Moonshot will create a forum for us to imagine a Sci-Fi Faculty of the Future that pushes us to the limit of our ability to predict the unknown while still staying true to our ideals of critical practice, disciplinary depth, cross-medial exchange, social inclusion, and community engagement. What openings and closings will the far future bring? How will space, time, things, texts, and bodies be accommodated? What will knowledge look and feel like? What kind of citizens do we want to be? What kinds of architectures will support our vision?

CONSULTATION

The majority of the space planning work Concordia is undertaking with Diamond Schmitt and Associates consists of many forms of one-on-one and group consultations: tours, visits, workshops, charrettes and interviews with staff, faculty and students from across our nine departments and units. Events involving over 120 selected members of the Faculty of Fine Arts will focus on the future of Fine Arts physical spaces taking into consideration the strategic directions of the University.