Each of the previous nine ELIA conferences had a specific title. While the 10th ELIA Conference has no title as such, we have chosen the image of a stuffed polar bear as a visual signifier — not just for the conference itself, but also as a reminder of the more fragile aspects of our world. As a metaphor, it is a potent reminder of our responsibilities and how we need to orient ourselves and our actions toward the future.

In organising the 10th ELIA Conference we are taking the opportunity to reflect on the previous conferences and to identify a few important issues: the continuing concerns that we all have in terms of the future of our arts schools, the things that give us confidence in our work and our successes, and the areas in which we still need to maintain a focus and a sense of commitment to bring about changes and ensure the continued vitality, relevance and significance that arts education plays in our increasingly complex societies

The content of the conference is conceived as a whole in which the cultural programme, the exhibitions, the symposia, the discipline sessions, the speakers’ contributions and the interactive forum are all interrelated. The focus of the conference and that of its various themes stem from issues that concern us all; the all-encompassing focus will be the future role of higher arts education institutions and the relationship of those institutions with our changing societies.

The physical centre of the conference will be a tent, located in the middle of Gothenburg’s main square and surrounded by the city’s art schools and cultural institutions where the conference sessions will be taking place. The tent will have the interactive forum, exhibitions, a stage and screen for presentations and a bar where delegates will have an opportunity for informal networking and relaxation.