Nuart Plus 2026: Nuart Plus Street Art Conference: Day 1 - King's College Conference Centre

Day 1: University of Aberdeen

11:00-17:00, free entry
The King’s College Conference Centre
University of Aberdeen, King’s College, AB24 3FX

On Day 1 of the Street Art Conference, we gather at the historic University of Aberdeen to focus on forms of urban creativity, past and present.

11:00-11:10: Welcome and Introduction
Dr Susan Hansen (AU/UK) and Dr Catriona McAra (SCT)

11:10-11:50: Slapping the City – the Spatiality and Meaning of Stickers
Dr Erik Hannerz (SE)

11:50-12:30: The Writing’s on the Wall: What Do Historical and Contemporary Graffiti Have in Common?
Dr Emma Bryning (UK)

12:30-13:30 – Lunch Break

13:30-14:20: Constellations of Resistance: The Visual Language of Collective Defiance
Stephen Ellcock (UK) in conversation with Carlo McCormick (US)

14:20-15:00: Nine Centuries of Graffiti in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Dr Antonia Thomas (SCT)

15:00-15:20 Break

15:20-16:00: Poetry on the Nile: Tourist Graffiti from the Romantic Era
Dr Hania El Houry (LB/DE)

16:00-16:40: Panel: Forms of Urban Creativity, Past and Present
Chaired by Dr Catriona McAra, with Dr Antonia Thomas, Dr Hania El Houry, Dr Erik Hannerz and Dr Emma Bryning

Friday evening continues with Fight Club aka the Pub Debate.
Free but ticketed with option to donate
21:00-23:00, free entry
Followed by music, doors open until 01:00

Upstairs at Cheerz, 2 Exchange Street, Aberdeen AB11 6PH

For anyone who’s ever been to a conference and felt bored to distraction, or anyone who ever felt too inhibited to put their hand up during a Q&A, Fight Club is for you. Inspired by the Greek symposia, Nuart introduces a hot topic in street art culture to be debated by opposing teams made up of guest artists, academics and arts industry professionals.