Spark Summit Call for Proposals
Spark Summit Conference
Thursday, March 4, 2027
Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts
Toledo-area Campus
View Google Maps location
Share your expertise at the 2027 Spark Summit.
Owens Community College invites proposals for presentations at the 2027 Spark Summit, a biennial conference connecting students, educators and industry professionals in the visual and performing arts.
The 2027 theme, Careers and Innovation in the World of AI, explores creative careers, professional workflows and the future of work.
We welcome proposals from professionals, educators, artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators who can inspire students through practical knowledge, emerging trends and real-world experience.
The conference will be held in person on the Owens Community College campus, with virtual presentation opportunities available for presenters outside Northwest Ohio.
Key Dates
Conference: Thursday, March 4, 2027
Proposal Deadline: Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Notification of Acceptance: Week of Nov. 4, 2026
Registration Opens: January 2027
Suggested Presentation Topics
We welcome proposals on topics such as:
- AI in Creative Workflows
- The Future of Creative Careers
- Freelancing and Entrepreneurship
- Personal Branding and Professional Identity
- Networking and Building Professional Relationships
- Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Ethics
- Career Readiness in the Age of AI
- How Employers Expect New Hires to Use AI
- AI for Photography, Video, and Digital Media
- Coding and Creative Technology Fundamentals
- Writing Successful Proposals and Pitches
- Finding Purpose Beyond the Paycheck
We also welcome innovative proposals that extend beyond these topics, as long as they help support the overall conference theme.
Presentation Format Options
- Interactive Workshop
- Panel Discussion
- Lecture or Presentation
Presentation Length
All conference sessions will be 45 minutes in length, including time for audience questions and discussion. Presenters are encouraged to design sessions that actively engage participants while allowing time for Q&A.
Intended Audience
- Multidisciplinary
- Discipline-Specific
- Program-Specific (Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Design, Animation, Theatre, Music, Audio Production, Digital Media)
Proposal Submission
Please include the following information with each proposal:
- Presentation title
- Presenter name(s) and professional affiliation(s)
- Presentation format
- Intended audience
- Audio/visual or technology requirements
- Brief session description (approximately 150–250 words)
Important Dates
Proposal Deadline: September 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
All proposals will undergo a blind review process. Presenters will be notified of proposal decisions during the week of November 4, 2026.
Conference registration will open in January 2027.
The Spark Summit Planning Committee welcomes diverse perspectives and encourages proposals from professionals across industry, education, nonprofit organizations and the creative arts.
Questions?
Please email Jeremy Meier, chair of Creative Arts & Media at Owens Community College.