Explore when and where to experience the many ways School of Art students, faculty, and staff are leading the conversation as the 37th Annual Society for Animation Studies Conference comes to Pittsburgh.
From June 15-18, the international animation community is convening in Pittsburgh for The Animate Experience, the 37th Annual Society for Animation Studies (SAS) Conference. Hosted by the newly formed Pennsylvania Expanded Animation Alliance, led by Professor Johannes DeYoung, the conference brings together more than 100 artists and industry leaders from around the world.
Several School of Art community members will be in the spotlight throughout the four-day lineup of screenings, talks, and exhibitions. While the daytime sessions hosted downtown at Point Park University require paid registration, the conference features evening events throughout the city that are free and open to the public.
Keep reading below for a full breakdown of community-specific and public events.
From Our Community
- Incoming Head of the School of Art Meg Bisineer, Professor Jamie Wolfe, and Professor DeYoung will all give presentations on their practices during the conference’s day sessions. DeYoung is also featured in the public closing exhibition and performance at WQED Studios.
- On June 17, Wendy Willis, Assistant Director of the MFA Program, will deliver a joint keynote with Brendan Burch on their Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Now What!?, highlighting animation and comedy as tools for civic engagement.
- Rising juniors Noam Di Giulio and Milo Pionavo-Marcotte are featured in a film screening of student work coinciding with the MuseumLab exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, while rising junior Ebba Shim will participate in the closing exhibition. Alum and IDeATe instructor Moshe Mahler will also be screening film work during the conference.
Johannes DeYoung, The Endless Mile
Now What!?, Middle Class Matt
Free Public Events
Opening Reception & Exhibition Launch
June 15, 5-7pm | MuseumLab at the Children’s Museum
Kicking off the week is a special evening titled “Welcome, Neighbors: Animating Care and Understanding,” co-hosted by Fred Rogers Productions and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. The event opens the “Animate Experience” exhibition and student film screenings at MuseumLab, which remain free to the public on weekends throughout the summer.
Resilient Reels: Ukrainian Animation on Screen and in Conversation
June 16, 7-9pm | Harris Theater
This evening screening is presented by Razom for Ukraine, highlighting the power of animation as a medium for cultural survival and storytelling during times of crisis.
Fissures: A Showcase of Expanded Animation
June 18, 7:30- 9:30pm | WQED Studios
The conference closes at WQED’s historic Fred Rogers Studio with a multi-sensory exhibition. The event fuses live performances from the School of Music with experimental animation and inflatable sculptures.
Noam Di Giulio, Amnion
Passes and Registration
All public evening events are free and open to the public, although advance registration is recommended to secure your spot.
For those interested in attending the daytime sessions at Point Park University, single-day passes are available via the conference website. Please note that onsite registration is limited.
For full programming details, visit animate-experience.com.