{"id":4941,"date":"2025-12-03T23:53:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T23:53:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/margaretwalkercenter\/?p=4941"},"modified":"2026-03-27T16:22:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T16:22:08","slug":"2026-case-festival-call-for-proposals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jsums.edu\/margaretwalkercenter\/2025\/12\/03\/2026-case-festival-call-for-proposals\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 CASE Festival: Call for Proposals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Call for Proposals<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

The Margaret Walker Center invites proposals for papers, presentations, and panels for the 20th Annual Creative Arts & Scholarly Engagement (CASE) Festival, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 10 & 11, 2026<\/strong>. The CASE Festival will feature a keynote address by Dr. Evie Shockley, Director of Creative Writing and Writers and the Zora Neale Hurston Distinguished Professor of English at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.<\/span><\/p>\n

Proposals must be submitted by Friday, March 6, 2026<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The 2026 CASE Festival theme will be the \u201cBlack Experience in the American South,\u201d but the organizers welcome proposals from high school, undergraduate, and graduate students on any topic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Proposal submissions should be 250 words, include a title and name of the participant\u2019s school, and should fit in one of four categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
    \n
  1. Poetry\/Spoken Word<\/strong> (10-15-minute presentations in original storytelling or poetry, including brief comments about inspiration &\/or form of the work)<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Visual Arts<\/strong> (up to 3 pieces of artwork in any media with 10-minute presentations)<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Written<\/strong> (8- to 10-page essays with 20-minute presentations)<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Performing Arts<\/strong> (10-minute dance, musical, and theatrical presentations)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    In the case of panel proposals, please submit the names of the participants, a brief synopsis of the panel\u2019s topic, and summaries of individual paper or presentation proposals. To submit a proposal, please complete our online form<\/a><\/span> or send a document in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF to mwa@jsums.edu.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    For more information, contact the Margaret Walker Center (mwa@jsums.edu or 601-979-3935) or the Conference Coordinator, Dr. Robert Luckett (robert.luckett@jsums.edu).<\/span><\/p>\n

    Note that the best essay by a JSU student on the \u201cBlack experience in the American South\u201d will receive the $1,000 Margaret Walker Annual Award<\/strong>. Submissions for the Margaret Walker Annual Award can be in various forms, including literary analysis, creative writing, research paper, biographical study, autobiography, and historical study. JSU students who would like to be considered for this award must submit their 8- to 10-page essays by Tuesday, March 31<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    \n
    \n

    We will also present the annual $500 Doris Derby Visual Arts and Social Justice Award<\/strong> to a student at any level from any institution whose contribution best reflects this year\u2019s CASE Festival theme in the category of visual arts, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, and crafts. Students must drop off their artwork to the JSU Art Department in Johnson Hall by Tuesday, March 31<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In order to win either award, students must present their written or visual pieces at the CASE Festival and attend the closing awards ceremony, where all winners will be announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

    This project is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part, from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    CASE Fest Q&A<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n