The terms ‘art’ and ‘design’ should be interpreted broadly to include, for example, crafts, indigenous making, media and product or service design. Chapters and visual essays are sought for this book, which will focus on the general theme of ‘Everyday Extremes’.

The book will focus on the everyday experiences and practices of human and non-human existence in the Arctic and related areas of the globe. The concept of extremes aims to highlight and describe the particular sensitivity that enables and supports creative and sustainable interaction between human/non-human actors and the everchanging, severe environment. Moreover, with the current speed of climate change, when the notion of the extreme environment is to be expanded towards most parts of the "Spaceship Earth" in the next 20-50 years, the challenges of nature and their social and cultural implications will call for a creative response. In search of visions and insights, along with locally appropriate solutions, we will focus on the broader perspective of collaborative practices in design, art, research and education within the Arctic and the regions alike. This includes art and design projects within and between communities, schools, universities, and businesses, culture, tourism and wellbeing.

Emphasis is placed on contributions that critically reflect on, for example:

  • Northern and Arctic perspectives on the notion of everyday extremes as it relates to art, design and visual culture education
  • The challenges of nature and social and cultural implications
  • Seeking locally appropriate solutions, with a focus on the wider perspective of collaborative practices in design, art, research and education within the Arctic region
  • Context-sensitive research methods in collaborative art and / or design as they relate to distance and access to art, design and education
  • Everyday extremes in arts, culture and education from the perspectives of the needs, rights and responsibilities of northern and Arctic communities, including indigenous peoples
  • Extreme conditions and impact on the human and non-human condition
  • Responsible, ethical, ecological, economicand social models of art, design and education to meet the challenges and possibilities caused by the everyday extremes prevalanet in the North and the Arctic 

Contributions are welcomed across the spectrum of art and design research and praxis that may focus on, for example:

  • Digitalization and hybrid pedagogy
  • Exhibitions and research on the topic of extremes in the Arctic
  • Issues of inclusion as impacted by extremes
  • Digital participation of remote communities 
  • Images of everyday extremes of the North

About the RELATE NORTH series: This book will be number nine in the Relate North series connected to the Arctic Sustainable Arts & Design (ASAD) Thematic Network of the University of Arctic and the third to be published by InSEA Publications. The Relate North series is dedicated to the exploration and sharing of contemporary practices in arts-based research and academic knowledge exchange in the fields of arts, design and visual culture education. Each volume consists of scientific peer-reviewed chapters and visual essays. The series is of interest to academic researchers, artists, designers, art educators and practice-based researchers. This call is for contributions to the latest book, scheduled for publication in late 2022.

Submission and dates:
The editors invite, in the first instance, submission of a synopsis (abstract) of the proposed contribution (no more than 500 words).

Deadline for submission of synopsis is on Monday 31 January 2022. Synopsis should be emailed to editors: Glen Coutts:  glen.coutts@gmail.com , Timo Jokela: timo.jokela@ulapland.fi, University of Lapland and Svetlana Usenyuk-Kravchuk: svetlana.usenyak@gmail.com, Tomsk State University.

Editors will review the synopses and invite selected authors on Monday 14 February 2022 to write chapters and visual essays to the next stage (full chapter or visual essay to double blind peer review). All contributors should note that the deadline for full manuscripts is Monday 2 May 2022.

After the double blind peer review period (10 May – 14 June 2022) authors will get the final decision. In autumn 2022 the final editing and corrections will be done and publishing the book will be on December 2022.

Potential authors may want to consult the previous issues of Relate North. To download them please go to: https://www.asadnetwork.org/publications.html

If you have any questions, please contact: Glen Coutts: glen.coutts@gmail.com or Timo Jokela: timo.jokel@ulapland.fi or Svetlana Usenyuk-Kravchuk: svetlana.usenyak@gmail.com

For more information and guidelines for authors see the Call announcement.