An Invitation to Imagine
How does creativity strengthen communities and individual well-being over a lifetime? The Syracuse University Humanities Center invites the campus and local community to reflect on that question through its 2025–26 Syracuse Symposium, themed "Creativity."
In an era where automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping society and the workforce, creativity, cultural engagement and critical thinking are more essential than ever, both for our collective well-being and for successful careers. Creativity and critical thinking consistently rank among the most sought-after abilities in prospective employees, while research shows that humanities majors enjoy high job satisfaction rates and demonstrate remarkable adaptability across a wide range of occupations.
The Symposium’s fall programming explores creativity’s power to address some of today's most pressing questions: How do we harness new technologies in artistic ways? How are music and math linked as creative endeavors and also as places of problem-solving? How can a craft like sewing or quilt-making help us reflect on our values and build shared community? And how is creativity itself innately core to human thriving, whether individually or collectively?
“As a theme, ‘Creativity’ invites us to appreciate the humanities’ positive impact in our lives," says Vivian May, Director of the Humanities Center. “Creativity foregrounds ingenuity and inventive action: it lies at the core of problem-solving as well as artistic innovation. Creativity prompts us to re-imagine what’s possible and can inspire us to find ways to spark positive change in the world around us.”
With support from the Office of the Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives, the annual Syracuse Symposium brings acclaimed scholars, artists, performers and writers to Central New York for free, public events that span both fall and spring semesters.
This year's programming aligns with the College of Arts and Sciences' core focus areas of culture, community and change; health and well-being; and innovative technologies, underscoring the influence of creativity across disciplines and its role in shaping new possibilities as A&S scholars and students tackle global challenges and societal needs.
Showcased activities encompass quilt-making, literature, film, music, new media and technology, art and storytelling. “It's noteworthy that many events this season are tied to collaborative projects, highlighting the importance of reciprocity and partnership in many creative endeavors,” says May. “Creativity underscores how the humanities help us craft community, ask hard questions of ourselves and others and think in new ways. We hope people will come away with new perspectives on what creativity can mean to them.”
Fall Events
Thursday, Sept. 11
Stanford University art historian Alexander Nemerov will deliver a keynote talk, “Do You Know What It’s All About? Helen Frankenthaler, Clement Greenberg, and a Painting at Syracuse,” exploring the surprising ties between pioneering painter Helen Frankenthaler, influential critic and Syracuse alumnus Clement Greenberg and the Syracuse Art Museum’s own collection.
Friday, Sept. 12
La Casita Cultural Center commemorates Latino Heritage Month with “Corpórea/Corporeal,” a vibrant exhibition of large-scale collaborative works that showcase creativity as a tool for storytelling, healing and identity.
Image: Acrylic Mixed Media on canvas by Esperanza Tielbaard 2025
Monday, Sept. 15
Art and Music Histories hosts a screening of As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial (2024). The documentary examines how rap lyrics have been used as evidence in U.S. courtrooms, raising urgent questions about artistic freedom, criminalization and racial justice. Rap artist Kemba, who is featured in the film, will join for a Q&A following the screening.
Saturday, Oct. 4 and Nov. 1
Faculty and staff from across Syracuse’s schools and colleges will host “Stitching our Stories: Threads of Self, Community and Future.” Two Fall “sew-in” workshops invite participants to create quilt blocks inspired by prompts, allowing participants to express their creativity through the shared act of making. The October session will focus on questions of personhood and identity, while the November session will reflect on questions of place. “Where am I…what histories shape this place…how do they impact belonging?”
Thursday, Oct. 9
Mathematician, composer and pianist Eugenia Cheng presents “The Logic of Creativity: Music, Mathematics, and Expression.” A dynamic performer and Scientist in Residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Cheng demonstrates how mathematical reasoning can illuminate music and how creativity can advance problem-solving and social justice.
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Academy Award–winning visual effects artist Dipankar Goswamy presents “Raag Rang: A Visualization of Indian Classical Music.” By turning sound into color, Goswamy offers audiences a new way of experiencing the richness of North Indian classical music through portraits of Indian classical musicians.
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Media artists LaJuné McMillian and Manuel Molina Martagon host “Build Your Own Portal: Motion Capture and Avatar Creation,” a hands-on workshop featuring exercises in self-expression using simple motion-capture software. No tech experience needed. Registration required.
Thursday, Nov. 6
The Urban Video Project hosts a performance and conversation with artists LaJuné McMillian, Manuel Molina, Martagon Kofi Antwi and Martikah Williams. Enter the Portal: Creating Liberating Worlds explores creative mis-use of extended reality software as a tool of liberation.
Friday, Nov. 7, Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9
The Fall portion of the Syracuse Symposium concludes with “Writing Our Way Home: A Veterans’ Writing Weekend” at the National Veterans Resource Center. Writers and veterans Dewaine Farria, Brian O’Hare and Jenny Pacanowski will lead workshops, public readings and community-building sessions. The weekend highlights storytelling as a form of testimony, reintegration and healing.
All events are free and open to the public, with accessibility accommodations available. A full schedule and registration links are available on the Humanities Center website.
Published: Sept. 2, 2025
Media Contact: asnews@syr.edu