Vision & Sound Symposium 2026

Join the Sedona Arts Center and the ASU Center for the Study of Race and Democracy for a powerful 2026 Vision & Sound Symposium. This symposium brings together artists, scholars, and community members for a day of keynote presentations, panel discussions, performances, receptions, and reflection. The event features keynote speaker Brett Cook, an artist and educator who explores issues of place, presence, and loss in American society and African American communities. Attendees can also expect sessions co-led by acclaimed choreographer Liz Lerman and ASU counselor Austin Gamble, focusing on the Critical Response Process. Arizona-based Vision and Sound artists will discuss their work and engage with audiences in compelling gallery talks. The symposium serves as a culminating event for the Vision & Sound program, aiming to broaden understanding and appreciation of African American visual and performing arts, promote cultural equity, and foster dialogue and deeper engagement with African American art and cultural practice in the context of education, social justice, public history, and government.