Paper as Politic Symposium

Paper as Politic Symposium - April 16-18, 2026

Hosted by The School of Art and Design

Papermaking considers paper as both a material and a political act. The symposium brings together artists, scholars, and makers who explore how papermaking engages questions of labor, inheritance, and representation.

Paper is approached not only as a surface but as a carrier of memory, marked by the fibers, water, and touch that shape it. Discussions will highlight how paper making resists erasure, cultivates collaboration, and embraces radical formats where the medium becomes a platform for both independent voices and collective interventions. By foregrounding both the fragility and persistence of the medium, the symposium positions paper as a site of creative agency and a vehicle for collective reflection.

George Mason University is pleased to announce a call for presentations for our upcoming symposium focused on the art, craft, history, and future of paper. We invite artists, scholars, educators, students, and historians from across disciplines to submit proposals for presentations and workshops.

Paper as Politic Submission topics may include—but are not limited to:

• Traditional hand papermaking techniques
• Contemporary and experimental approaches
• Sustainability and ecological impact in papermaking
• Paper as artistic medium or social commentary
• Papermaking in education and community engagement
• Cross-cultural papermaking traditions
• The science of paper materials and fiber studies
• Archival concerns and the preservation of handmade papers