Futures Crossovers & Returns Program

FUTURES CROSSOVERS & RETURNS

A research symposium and collaborative time with allies from Sweden & Canada.

FEBRUARY 18, 19 & 20, 2026 The Participatory Cultures Lab (PCL) @ McGill 2001 Avenue McGill College, Suite 930 (9th floor)

FUTURES CROSSOVERS & RETURNS These events bring together researchers from Mid Sweden University, McGill University, and NSCAD University to explore how we may advance understanding of social inclusion, governance, resilience, and lived experiences across diverse contexts. With researchers’ experience spanning gender, work, rurality, displacement, resilience, participatory visual methods, youth engagement, and community‑led arts practices, the PCL is hosting a shared space for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborative design.

Over these 3-days, we will work across thematic and methodological intersections; on Day 1, we will reconnect and plan together; Day 2 is Symposium day, blending short presentations, methods labs, and reflective dialogues; and, Day 3 culminates with a closer look at funding, mapping-out and next steps for projects and publishing.

Together, these activities support the co‑creation of project and publishing possibilities, identification of shared methodological trajectories, and development of a joint international research agenda.

We hope this time together will strengthen transnational partnerships and collaboration. By the close of these 3-days, we hope to have developed some concrete next steps for research collaboration and the beginnings of a shared vision for community‑rooted, transnational research.

FUTURES AS A FRAMING What Do We Mean by Futures as a Framing?

Futures thinking is a relational, creative, and contemplative practice that invites us to imagine plural possibilities for the future by examining the stories and worldviews we collectively shape in the present and how we orient ourselves toward those futures. My project with young women musicians participates in this futures-thinking process by exploring what makes a musical life sustainable over time. Through sound-based co-creation, participants will explore their experiences, social dynamics, and their feelings about their musical futures through a lens of affect and belonging. Sound serves as a medium for imagining futures that support both long-term artistic career sustainability and emotional wellbeing, revealing possibilities for more supportive creative environments for women.

Futures Recomended Readings:

Rebecca Coleman & Kat Jungnickel Introduction to Creating Feminist FuturesResearch Methodologies for New Times

Kai Lehikoinen & Satu Tuittila “Arts‑Based Approaches for Futures Workshops”

Who’s Involved in the Symposium?

KATARINA GIRITLI-NYGREN

SARA NYHLEN

Mid Sweden University

Mid Sweden University

APRIL MANDRONA

KIRSTIE MCCALLUM

SHAKARA JOSEPH

inACTS, NSCAD University

inACTS, NSCAD University

inACTS, NSCAD University & Dalhousie University

CLAUDIA MITCHELL

TWISHA SINGH

RACHEL KRONICK

ANN SMITH

PCL, McGill University

PCL, McGill University

McGill University

Girlhood Studies Journal

VANESSA VAUGHAN

MONICA SHANK LAUWO

AUGUSTA VALEVICIUS

SEWAR ELEJLA

Educator & Artist

McGill University

McGill University

McGill University

FEBRUARY 18 2026

1:00-5:00 PM

DAY 1: RECONNECTING & PLANNING

Orientation & Planning Huddle

A working session to reconnect, get oriented within the PCL space, and align on goals, roles, and expectations for the next two days. The session introduces key conceptual frames and funding landscapes that will shape collaboration conversations.

Activities: Tour of the PCL (including Smart Board + Sound Booth) Review of symposium goals, assign facilitation roles, and refine plans Discussion of conceptual framings (Futures, care/repair, temporality, arts‑based methods) Early look at international and national funding pathways (Horizon Europe, NFRF–IJI, UArctic, Connection Grants) Light strategizing toward possible collaborations and publications

5:30 PM

Group Dinner @ The Faculty Club (3450 McTavish)

An informal gathering to welcome all collaborators, deepen connections, and set the tone for the days ahead.

FEBRUARY 19 2026

9:45 - 10:00 AM

DAY 2: SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE IN BRIEF

Mini-Fika

10:00 - 10:15 AM

Getting Started

10:15 AM 12:00 PM

Session 1 : Who’s at the Table?

12:00 - 12:30 PM

Session 2 : Introducing ‘Futures’ as a Framing

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Lunch @ PCL

1:15 - 2:15 PM

Session 3 : Thematic Waves

2:15 - 3:15 PM

Session 4 : Clusters & Constellations

3:15 - 4:30 PM

Session 5 : Roadmapping

4:30 - 5:00 PM

Break / Set-up 5@7

5:00 - 7:00 PM

Afterwork 5@7 OUT Exhibition

FEBRUARY 19 2026

Morning Morning 10:15-11:15 AM

10:15 AM 45 MINS

11:00 AM 60 MINS

11:15 AM 12:30 PM

DAY 2: FOCUS ON SESSIONS

SESSION 1 : Who’s at the Table?

Individuals share meaningful artefacts that reflect their research. Each participant shares for 3-minutes each: One meaningful artefact (photo, map, object) Why it matters to their research

Followed by three group presentations: 1. Mid-Sweden, 2. NSCAD & 3. McGill (15-mins per group): Collective reflection on each group’s shared projects and collaborative research practice.

SESSION 2 : Introducing ‘Futures’ as a Framing

An introduction to Futures as a conceptual frame, followed by discussion of how Futures and other framings may expand, complicate, or re‑orient participants’ research.

Includes a short presentation by Augusta on plural futures and anticipatory approaches and group input on how Futures might inform, challenge, or expand participants’ work There is space throughout the day for the identification of other key framings

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Lunch @ PCL

FEBRUARY 19 2026

Afternoon Afternoon 1:15 - 2:15 PM

DAY 2: FOCUS ON SESSIONS

SESSION 3: Thematic Waves

The group explores shared research terrain through rotating theme stations, identifying intersections, insights, gaps, and emerging tensions.

Up to six theme stations drawn from team research areas (e.g., resilience & temporality; rurality & green waves; gender, youth, arts‑based & participatory methods).

2:15 - 3:15 PM

SESSION 4 : Clusters & Constellations

Using insights from the thematic stations, participants form thematic clusters and self‑organize into 3–5 “constellations” representing emerging collaboration directions. These constellations will become the basis for concrete project development.

3:15 - 4:30 PM

SESSION 5 : Roadmapping Mini Labs

Constellations develop early‑stage project and/or publishing roadmaps, moving from high‑level ideas toward concrete, actionable next steps. Each constellation becomes a mini‑lab and produces: a working project title, one‑sentence purpose, first research question, potential methods and the beginnings of a plan (roles, tasks, and timeline).

Concludes with short share‑outs to the group and a wrap‑up reflection on momentum and next steps.

AFTERWORK

5@7 & EXHIBITION

19 FEBRUARY 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Partiicpatory Cultures Lab 2001 Av McGill College Suite 930 (9th Floor)

The Participatory Cultures Lab invites you to celebrate and socialise with a network of researchers from Mid Sweden, NSCAD and McGill Universities.

AFTERWORK closes the Futures, Crossovers & Returns Research Symposium with a catered reception and a chance to take in OUT: PORTRAITS OF A PROUD COMMUNITY photography exhibition by Samir Khoury (PhD Dise). OUT explores Identity construction among & social justice for/by Lebanese/Arab Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, & Queer+ peoples.

RSVP by 16 February leann.brown@mcgill.ca

FEBRUARY 20 2026

9:30 AM 12:00 PM

DAY 3: MAPPING & NEXT STEPS

SESSION 1 : Funding Exploration

A strategic session mapping collaboration ideas against major funding opportunities, with input from OSR and invited advisers.

Some pre-identified opportunities include: Horizon Europe “culture” call ERC Synergy Grants UArctic Indigenous & Northern research funding NFRF–IJI (SDG‑aligned, multi‑PI international collaborations) SSHRC Connection Grants for networks, workshops, and mobilization -Joanna Mastalerek (Office of Sponsored Research) will join online to speak to the Horizon Europe and ERC Synergy Grants.

-Maryam Ebrahimi invited to speak about NFRF. (TBC) Participants map their constellations against these opportunities and sketch which calls may be feasible.

12:00 12:45 PM

Lunch @ PCL

12:45 4:00 PM

SESSION 2: Ideas to Expressions of Interest

Constellations turn their emerging project directions into draft EOIs, proposal sketches, and publication concepts.

Draft EOIs (1–2 pages) Early proposal frames Publication concepts or collaborative writing seeds Identification of necessary partners, missing expertise, and feasibility considerations Ends with brief share‑outs and scheduling of post‑symposium follow‑ups (monthly calls, writing timelines, next convenings).