In December 2025, NSCAD University welcomed artists, thinkers, cultural workers, researchers, and community members for the inaugural RISE Symposium, a week-long gathering dedicated to centering Black voices, experiences, and knowledge systems.
Conceived by NSCAD’s Canada Research Chair Dr. Eddy Firmin, the conference was grounded in the theme ‘Infungible Narratives.’
The event created opportunities for multiple Black perspectives to coexist without hierarchy, extraction, or assimilation into dominant academic norms, fostering meaningful dialogue, creative exchange, and community building.
The newly released report captures the Symposium’s inception, programming timeline, participant feedback, and key outcomes. It reflects on the conversations, connections, and artistic networks that emerged throughout the week while documenting the event’s broader impact on participants and the community.
