Exploratory Programming will be, as the name suggests, an exploration of Phoenix Rising's themes and innovations, as well as an immersion into the world of Harry Potter. While the majority of Phoenix Rising's educational programming is submitted by everyone from scholars to fans and selected by our expert boards, Phoenix Rising will endeavor to supplement and expand upon this more formal selection. The creative staff for Exploratory Programming will coordinate activities open to everyone that challenge individuals and groups, in a sociable atmosphere, to use knowledge of the books and apply skills in reading, writing, art, and problem-solving.
The highlight of our Exploratory Programming is Artists and Authors Night, our Saturday night event, where professional and fan authors will read from their fiction, and professional and fan artists will be on hand to display and discuss their work. Attendees will also have opportunities to immerse themselves in writing and art as craft and receive feedback. If you have questions about Exploratory Programming, please write to programming
@thephoenixrises.org.
Artists and Authors Night
Sponsored by FictionAlley
On the evening of Saturday, May 19, 2007, Phoenix Rising will highlight the creativity of the fan community with an interactive array of writing and art programming, including fanfiction readings, an art gallery, and other programming for readers, writers, artists, and others interested in creative pursuits inspired by the Harry Potter series. Interactive booths, where an attendee can request a short, customized piece of fiction or art, or get advice on their writing or art, will be open to all. For more information on Artists and Authors Night, including how to participate, please click here.
Firewalking
Throughout the conference, Phoenix Rising's Exploratory Programming team will offer a series of writing and art challenges, brainteasers, games and logic puzzles. Attendees can participate in one or all of the challenges, alone or in teams. These surprise challenges will be listed in the program book as Firewalking, and the winner or winners of each challenge will earn points toward L'Université des Arts Magiques Pirate Gold. Truly dedicated problem-solvers can participate in the Horcrux Hunt, a separate wizarding quest to be solved over the weekend.
Gallery
Phoenix Rising will host a gallery of magical, fantasy, and fan art, beginning during the conference's Overture Dinner and running until the Coda Breakfast on the last day. Artists do not have to attend Phoenix Rising in order to submit art or to be included in the gallery. To find out about more about submitting art for consideration, please visit our Gallery page.
The Paintbrush and Quill Society
At the time, the Paintbrush and Quill Society has reached its limit on authors; artists, however, are still needed.
The New Orleans branch of the Paintbrush and Quill Society invites you to participate in its collaborative program for authors and artists. The first fifty authors and fifty artists to add the Paintbrush and Quill Society to their registration will be paired up by the Sorting Quill. The teams will then collaborate to produce an illustrated work of fiction, to be unveiled at Phoenix Rising. How you work together is up to you, as long as you work together. If you have questions about the Society or its work, please e-mail us at programming@thephoenixrises.org. Otherwise, please add the Society to your registration, and answer the questions about your writing and art preferences so we can match you with a collaborator. Participation in the Society is free of charge. All works produced as part of the Society will be displayed at Phoenix Rising, and artists and authors will receive a printed copy as well.
Please note that all material produced as part of this project is subject to Phoenix Rising's NC-17 policy, and the staff of Phoenix Rising reserves the right to refuse works it deems unacceptable. Anyone old enough to attend Phoenix Rising is eligible to participate with a parent or guardian's permission.
