PALS 2026 SUMMIT

Partnership for Academic Leadership in Sustainability (PALS) Annual 2.5-day Summit for arts & design higher ed faculty & academic staff

<h3>In PALS, we believe it’s vital that creative education places sustainability at its core. </h3>We prepare artists and designers to lead in shaping a more sustainable future.That’s why we host the PALS Summit, a 2.5 day in-person and virtual gathering for faculty and academic staff to connect with the broader PALS ecosystem. Participants leave the Summit with ideas, tools, and connections we can bring back to our home institutions to advance sustainability within our schools’ curriculum, programming, and materials, contributing to industry-wide impact. <h2>2026 Theme: Transformational Teaching for Empowerment and Action</h2>This summit explores how art and design educators can cultivate learning experiences that move beyond awareness to inspire agency. By addressing sustainability challenges through creativity, collaboration, and critical reflection, we’ll share teaching practices that empower students to imagine alternatives, build resilience, and take meaningful action in their own work and communities. Participants will gain:<ol><li>Personal and professional development opportunities – learning, skill-building, and networking experiences</li><li>Exposure to PALS activities and initiatives – such as the ongoing working groups, PALS Presents events, and potential funding opportunities- allowing participants to get involved in the broader PALS partnership beyond just attending the summit.</li><li>Connection to the PALS community – PALS is the people that show up. The summit allows participants to engage with and become part of the PALS partner community. This community aspect and sense of collaboration is a key benefit of the summit.</li></ol> <h3><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qo64VYxOiJP1DMgtND-RMjI7s6q5lWftsw4wwZw9Ed4/edit?usp=sharing" title="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qo64VYxOiJP1DMgtND-RMjI7s6q5lWftsw4wwZw9Ed4/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Check out the full Summit Agenda</a></h3> <h3>JOIN US AT THE SUMMIT | February 26-28, 2026</h3> In-person GatheringPratt Institute, Brooklyn, NYIn-Person Registration Deadline: February 13, 2026Registration Fee: $200 Online GatheringVirtual gathering will be available to those who would prefer to participate from afar.Online Registration Deadline: February 25, 2026Registration Fee: $150 We plan to provide meals and gathering space for the in-person experience. We have done our best to design the event so you get just as much value and meaningful connections, regardless of your format for participation. These low fees have been made possible by the generous support of AICAD and the Frankenthaler Foundation. Attendance GuidelinesThe PALS Summit resembles more of a "think tank" than a traditional conference. While key presentations will be delivered at various points throughout the event, attendance across the entire 2.5-day duration is stongly encouraged for all participants. This ensures that each attendee fully benefits from the comprehensive agenda designed to stimulate discourse, introduce actionable themes, facilitate participation in working groups and enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing among attendees. This commitment to attendance allows the PALS Summit to be co-created by each attendee; we become an active collective learning community imagining and designing a transformational future for sustainability in higher ed art and design.LodgingWe do not have a preferred hotel or hotel block with the expectation that each participant’s lodging preferences will be different. When you register for the in-person gathering, we will provide a list of commonly used local hotels in your confirmation email.Funding SupportWe want to remove cost as a barrier to participation. We have a limited pool of funds available to assist with travel and registration fees. If you are seeking support, please<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSec10fC8M1xAEoFnH-Xcy-2IXcmRTvKuDHLaRzNdpD7HnDG2w/viewform" title="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSec10fC8M1xAEoFnH-Xcy-2IXcmRTvKuDHLaRzNdpD7HnDG2w/viewform" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> complete this application.</a> <a href="https://www.aicad.org/pals/" title="https://www.aicad.org/pals/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Learn more about PALS</a>Feel free to reach out to the PALS Leadership team with any questions: Carolyn Shafer (cschaebe@pratt.edu), Natalie Salvador (nsalvador@otis.edu), and Lauren Goldberg (lauren@aicad.org)

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PALS 2026 SUMMIT

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