Arts Festival
Submission Information
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The Arts Festival features innovative art-based research submissions in three modalities – film, art and photography, inspired by and advancing consumer research in new directions. Art-based research (ABR) combines the tenets of the creative arts in research contexts (Leavy 2019), employing artistic methods to gather, analyze, and/or present qualitative data (Hervey 2000). Art that is based on scientific studies offers a multisensory, multifaceted, discursive, experiential, interactive and subjective understanding of an investigated problem, not just to researchers, but also to fieldwork participants and to art show visitors, because of the co-creative dialogue that is established among these three groups (Seregina 2020). When thinking about their scientific studies through media and senses that are not the ones they are used to in an academic context (i.e., the written paper and the oral lecture), scholars are forced to step outside their comfort zone (Bettany 2022). ABR enables scholars to deepen and rethink their interpretations of research data while interacting with field participants, while planning the artwork, while building art pieces, and while talking to visitors during exhibitions, in an iterative process where errors become opportunities (Walther and Costa 2022).
- Films and videography submissions should be complete, self-standing research projects. Research films are a flexible, open-ended, and creative format of submission which presents research expressions communicated via moving image and sounds. Films should aim to leverage sensitivity to movement, sound, and compelling audio-visual storytelling.
Art and photography submissions should be art-based consumer research created or communicated through visual and/or auditory aesthetic processes. This can include (but not restricted to) photographs, drawings, paintings, sculptures, collages, installations, or performances. You do not have to be an expert photographer to enter, since photography has emerged as a diverse and democratized art form (Veer 2022). Research photography provides an opportunity to be creative, using imagery to explore the relevance of your research and to communicate quickly to a varied audience with a visual medium that can inspire and engage.
Evaluation
Art Festival submissions are evaluated by blind reviewers. Final decisions are made by the Track Co-Chairs, in consultation with the conference Co-Chairs. All submissions will be evaluated based on a) contribution to knowledge on consumer research topics; b) timeliness and topicality; c) videographic qualities (for film) / aesthetic, experiential and reflexive qualities (for art and photo); d) innovativeness / originality; e) ethical conduct, and f) fit with the conference theme (“Elevation”).
Presentation
- Films: Viewing sessions for films will be scheduled during the conference. At least one author of each accepted film must be present during their session at ACR to address questions and participate in discussion. Author (s) may need to modify their films in line with recommendations by the Arts Festival Co-Chairs and reviewers and describe how they addressed (or not) the comments.
- Art and Photography: Accepted submissions will be displayed in an in-person art gallery during the conference. Artwork and printed photographs must be provided by authors and may be displayed on tables or hung on vertical boards provided by the conference or the artist. Further details (like room, table, and board sizes) will be sent to accepted artists later.
Submission Requirements for Films
Other Important Formatting and Submission Information
- Title. This is the title that will be published in the conference program.
- Author(s). Provide name, email, and affiliation for each of the primary organizers of the session. Please indicate whether each organizer(s) will serve as a corresponding author, presenter, or both.
- Short Abstract (50-word max). This abstract will be published in the conference program and should concentrate on the big picture contribution(s) of the film.
- Film (20 min max). Upload films (that are de-identified for blind review) to Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/) and allocated password access. If necessary, provide both the link and password in the submission box.
- Extended Abstract (500-word max). Please provide a structured extended abstract to be evaluated by the reviewers. The extended abstract answer the following questions.
- What is the intended contribution to knowledge that the film seeks to make?
- Which body of literature it builds on and/or is inspired of?
- How, when, and why was the film created?
- What kind of filmmaking and/or methodological approach is adopted?
- Who participated in its creation?
- References, if applicable. References do not count toward the word limit. References should follow the JCR citation style.
Other Important Information for Film Submissions:
- Extra care should be taken by authors to avoid copyright infringement.
- Submissions should follow the current style sheet of the Journal of Consumer Research, except that the entire text should be single-spaced. Subheadings should be bolded or italicized and capitalized (no hard return necessary).
- Please adhere to high standards of spelling and grammar and consider having a copy editor or peer review the abstract prior to submission.
- Submissions that do not adhere to the word and page limits will be rejected on that basis.
Submission Requirements for Art and Photography
- Title. This is the title that will be published in the conference program.
- Author(s). Provide name, email, and affiliation for each of the primary organizers of the session. Please indicate whether each organizer(s) will serve as a corresponding author, presenter, or both.
- Short Abstract (50-word max). This abstract will be published in the conference program and should concentrate on the big picture contribution(s) of the artwork/photograph.
- Artwork/Photography. Please upload the images, each artwork/photograph.
- Extended Abstract (500-word max). Please provide a structured extended abstract to be evaluated by the reviewers. The extended abstract should describe the artwork/photograph and the research on which it is based. The abstract should answer the following questions.
- What does the artwork/photograph look like?
- What artistic modes and media were used?
- How, when and why was the artwork/photograph created?
- Who participated in its creation? (if it has been cocreated)
- What was the topic, context, methods, findings and contributions of the research on which the artwork/photograph is based? (if applicable)
- How does it relate to the consumer research on which it was based?
- How can it enrich our understanding of theory or research?
- How will it be displayed? (with approximate measurements)
- References, if applicable. References do not count toward the word limit. References should follow the JCR citation style.
Other Important Formatting and Submission Information
- We will review partially completed work (e.g. sketches, partial paintings, or sculptures). In this case, the submission needs to show clearly what the final art piece will look like. Moreover, partially completed work will be accepted conditionally, pending submission of the final images by September 5, 2026.
- Researchers may not submit more than three art or photography entries as digital images of their work. One entry may consist of multiple images or components (e.g., a series of sculptures), but cannot exceed five images/components. Photos can be taken on a variety of equipment, from smartphones to DSLRs.
- Submissions should follow the current style sheet of the Journal of Consumer Research, except that the entire text should be single-spaced. Subheadings should be bolded or italicized and capitalized (no hard return necessary).
- Please adhere to high standards of spelling and grammar and consider having a copyeditor or peer review the abstract prior to submission.
- Submissions that do not adhere to the word and page limits will be rejected on that basis.
Submission on the Portal
Specific step-by-step submission guidelines will become available when the submission portal is open.
Deadline for submissions is 23:59 PST March 17, 2025
Submission on the Portal
Accepted Film Submissions
- Authors whose videographic work is accepted will also be asked to submit a short trailer (1-2 minutes), the modified version of the film, and the modified abstract or text commentary by September 5, 2026.
- The trailer should be available for public viewing via a Vimeo link (not be password protected) and emailed to the track chairs.
- Trailers will be linked to and screened on the conference website with the abstract to promote awareness and engage the ACR community.
- All authors are asked to agree to make their films accessible through the Film Section of the ACR website and conference website.
Publishing of Accepted Art Festival Submissions:
Authors of accepted proposals agree to upload their final 50-word Short Abstract (MS Word file) in July 2026. The most recent version submitted by the July due date will be published “as is” in the ACR Proceedings.
Accepted Film Submissions
- Authors whose videographic work is accepted will also be asked to submit a short trailer (1-2 minutes), the modified version of the film, and the modified abstract or text commentary by September 05, 2025.
- The trailer should be available for public viewing via a Vimeo link (not be password protected) and emailed to the track chairs.
- Trailers will be linked to and screened on the conference website with the abstract to promote awareness and engage the ACR community.
- All authors are asked to agree to make their films accessible through the Film Section of the ACR website and conference website.
Accepted Art Festival Submissions
Authors may elect to have their art published in the proceedings, if applicable, but need to release copyright to ACR before publication.
