Open Engagement is a free annual conference on socially engaged art. Directed and founded by Jen Delos Reyes and planned in conjunction with the Art and Social Practice program.
Each year the conference themes are directly related to the current research and inquiry of the students in the Art and Social Practice program at Portland State University. Students and faculty work together to select the featured presenters, who then also become faculty in the Art and Social Practice MFA program.
Open Engagement fosters both local, national and international dialogue and partnerships around socially engaged art making.
Past presenters and institutions involved in Open Engagement include: Watts House Project, Nato Thompson, Darren O’Donnell, Bad at Sports, Mark Dion, Hideous Beast, Amy Franceschini, David Horvitz, InCUBATE, Henry Jenkins, National Bitter Melon Council, Parfyme, Lisa Radon, Shannon Stratton, Temporary Services, Ted Purves, The Hammer, The Portland Art Museum, Linda Weintraub, Future Farmers, Pacific North West College of Art.