Social Theory,
Politics
& The Arts
Social Theory, Politics, & the Arts
STP&A is an international membership organization of researchers, policy-makers, educators, practitioners, artists, and students that explores arts trends, practices, and policies.
The STP&A conference is the oldest and one of the most influential academic gatherings in the field of arts management and cultural policy. STP&A participants are drawn from a broad range of disciplines including political science, sociology, economics, law, arts management, arts education, art history, museum studies, cultural studies, education, and policy studies as well as arts managers and artists.
Conference Details & Sponsors
50th Annual STP&A Conference
October 15-17, 2026
Columbus, OH
The Ohio State University
Thank you to our generous conference sponsors:
- The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation
- The Ohio State University
- Routledge
- The Wallace Foundation
Institutional Partnership with Florida State University
STP&A Board of Directors is pleased to announce a new institutional partnership with Florida State University’s College of Fine Arts. This partnership bolsters STP&A’s capacity to support its membership and to expand STP&A’s material archive. Specifically, FSU’s College of Fine Arts will augment STP&A in three ways:
- Serve as the administrative home address for the legal, financial and other standard business operations of STP&A as a nonprofit entity.
- Serve as a long-term institutional partner to provide in-kind administrative support to STP&A’s operations, including a graduate administrative fellow.
- Provide space for physical documents and STP&A’s archival materials.
STP&A Receives Sponsorship from The Wallace Foundation
STP&A is excited to announce a first-time sponsorship for the 2026 conference and scholarships from The Wallce Foundation. STP&A is grateful for this financial support that will enable expanded scholarship support a conference activities.
The Wallace Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan research foundation focused on the arts, education leadership, and youth development. They collaborate with grantees and research partners to design and test innovative approaches to address pressing problems in the fields they serve. The evidence-based insights they share—searchable online and free of charge—support policymakers and practitioners in their efforts to improve outcomes, enhance community vitality, and help all people reach their full potential.
