From August 21 to 30, 2026, Antwerp will become the beating heart of international arts education, social change, and artistic encounters. During the congress festival LOUDER TOGETHER, teaching artists, young performers, arts educators, and social-artistic workers from around the world will come together to exchange ideas, create together, and strengthen each other's practices.
ITAC8 – the International Teaching Artist Conference – is an integral part of this congress festival. The eighth edition of this international exchange is organized by Opendoek in collaboration with AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp.
What is LOUDER TOGETHER?
LOUDER TOGETHER brings together two international events:
- ITAC8, a conference for teaching artists who work with art and participation in education, welfare, communities, and social change.
- The World Children’s & Youth’s Performing Arts Festival, where young artists from all corners of the world showcase their work.
This unique combination ensures genuine cross-pollination between professionals, students, and young creators—an inspiring, multi-voiced, and participatory encounter.
Submit your proposal for ITAC8 now
Are you an artist, educator, or social-artistic creator who uses art in areas such as:
- education
- welfare and healthcare
- community building
- sustainability
- conflict transformation
- social justice?
Then we invite you to submit a proposal for ITAC8.
We are looking for contributions that are participatory and interactive, that invite co-creation, dialogue, and shared learning. So no traditional lectures, but hands-on sessions in which participants are actively involved.
What formats are possible?
- Participatory workshops or artistic explorations (50 or 90 minutes)
- Sneak Peeks (20 minutes): short exercises, mini-workshops, performances, presentations...
- Poster Presentations: an informal setting in which you share your work or practice with interested parties
Everyone is welcome—regardless of experience, discipline, or background. The strength of ITAC8 lies in the diversity of voices and practices.
More info and submitting your project
Read all about the call for proposals and submit your proposal via:
👉 www.opendoek.be/louder-together
Would you like to help build an international network of committed teaching artists? Do you have a practice that can inspire others? Let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.