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FATE Conference 2025 | April 10-12, 2025 | Hilton Tysons Corner | DC Metro Area

Hosted by George Mason University

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NEXT/NOW

The 2025 FATE Conference will challenge the established structures and assumptions that form our current understanding of what a foundational education in the arts is supposed to be. What tools have we developed teaching in a pandemic and “post” pandemic environment to better serve how students learn NOW? How might we project reimagined structures into the future to better build the NEXT supportive, inquisitive, and inclusive educational environments?


Artists and Educators are already doing amazing work to challenge traditional/status quo thinking of Foundations. We can learn from these contemporary moments of transformation to effect wider change. What are we doing NOW that shifts, extends, and bends what it means to engage new art students in contemporary making, doing, and thinking? The NEXT NOW is an attempt to conjure, in the present, the tools our students will need to build sustainable practices in their rapidly changing worlds.​

Early registration and awards for Next Now are now open!

George Mason University
2025 FATE Conference Planning Team

DanielBarney.jpg
Dr. Daniel Barney
he/him

VP of Conference

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Associate Director /  

Associate Professor

dbarney2@gmu.edu 

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Robert (Bobby) Yi 
he/him

Program Manager (Admin)

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Assistant Director /

Assistant Professor

ryi6@gmu.edu

Christopher Kardambikis_edited_edited.jp
Christopher Karadambikis 
he/him

Co Program Manager  

(Academic)

 

Associate Professor

ckardamb@gmu.edu

park-headshot-copy.png
Hayon Park Ph.D.
she/her

Co Program Manager

(Academic)

 

Associate Professor

hpark56@gmu.edu

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Sisc Johnson
she/her

Schedule Coordinator and Finance

 

Assistant Director of Operations and Business

sjohnsd@gmu.edu

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Ana (Tobin) Farnham
she/her

Design and Branding

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Assistant Professor

afarnha2@gmu.edu

Pierre Gray.jpg
Pierre Bowins
he/him

Communications and Outreach 

 

Assistant Professor

pbowins@gmu.edu

Yassmin Salem Headshot_edited.png
Yassmin Salem
she/they

Co Exhibition Manager

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Programs Manager, Mason Exhibitions

ysalem@gmu.edu

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Jeffrey Kenney
he/him

Co Exhibition Manager

 

Associate Curator, Mason Exhibitions

jkenney5@gmu.edu

Conference Planning Team
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