The York and Ryerson University Joint Graduate Program in Communication and Culture is proud to announce the 10th Annual Intersections/Cross-Sections Research Symposium and Art Exhibition: Politics of Play.

This one-day symposium will feature a series of structured and semi-structured playful activities, encouraging everyone to Think, Talk, and Play.

The aim of the symposium is to create a playful space for graduate scholars to engage in meaningful, interdisciplinary dialogue on the theme of Politics of Play. This one-day event will feature: panel discussions; all-day play stations; games; and an art exhibition to facilitate play and playful discussion.

The panel discussions will take place on the 3rd floor of Bento Miso, a collaborative workspace in Toronto’s Queen West district. The connected, 1st floor gallery will provide a playful and dynamic space to facilitate dialogue and play between panelists and attendees. It will feature all-day play stations, board games, card tables and artworks. It will also provide the space for the Cross-Sections Art Exhibition, charity auction for Right to Play, and party in the evening.

9-10:00am Registration and morning snacks
10-10:30 Opening remarks, Game-based lightning round to determine panelists and panels
10:30-11:30 Panel Discussion
11:30-12:30 Panel Discussion
12:30-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-2:30 Panel Discussion
2:30-3:30 Panel Discussion
3:30-4:00-Afternoon Break
4:00-5:00 Panel Discussion
5-6:00 Panel Discussion

6-7:00 Keynote Speaker: Sara Grimes, PhD., University of Toronto

9:00 Cross-Sections Art Exhibition, Charity Auction and Party Programming Highlights

Panel Discussions, Top Floor:
The times of each panel discussion and panelists will be determined in a lightning round in the morning on the day of the symposium. Presentations will not be grouped according to topic, but will be selected in a game of chance following morning registration.

All-day Play Stations, 1st Floor:
Button Making Play Station
Use your creativity to design and craft your own button on the theme of Politics of Play.

Toy Hacking Play Station
Reflecting on our engagement with childhood toys and prescribed forms of “play,” this station encourages participants to deconstruct recycled toys to create new monstrosities, toys, and works of art. If you want take these works home with you, make sure you attend the Cross-Sections and the silent auction.

Cross-Sections Art Exhibition will feature a charity auction for these works with all proceeds going to the charity Right to Play, a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity.

Board Games and Card Tables
If you don’t feel like attending a panel discussion, feel free to sit and play with a selection of board games. These spaces allow for panelists, attendees and artists to play and interact.

Mini Arcade
The Mini-Arcade will feature digital games made by local indie and DIY game developers and members of the Bento Miso community.

Attendance for this event is free and open to the public. Attendees will include participants, graduate students and educators from Toronto and surrounding cities, as well as members of the Bento Miso community, many of whom are makers of political and thought-provoking games.