About Chitro Nexus
Chitro Nexus 2026 is being launched as an international interdisciplinary conference series to promote scholarly dialogue across art and design. The inaugural conference, Chitro Nexus 2026: The Future of Art and Design, seeks to examine changing artistic and design practices in the context of emerging technologies and shifting cultural conditions. Technological innovation, particularly the development of artificial intelligence, environmental concerns and contemporary social movements demand a fresh examination of creativity, aesthetics, representation and authorship. They also raise important questions about cultural identity and the responsibilities of artists and designers.
The conference seeks to provide a forum for critical engagement with these developments. It will bring theory into conversation with practice, place established traditions alongside experimental approaches, and explore the relationship between local contexts and global developments. It will also consider how art and design can respond to contemporary challenges, question prevailing assumptions and contribute to more inclusive and sustainable cultural futures. Through this initiative, Chitro Nexus aspires to nurture an enduring community of scholars and artists, advancing new perspectives on the significance of art and design in contemporary life and their potential to contribute to the world ahead.
Conference Themes and Subthemes
Original research papers, critical essays and interdisciplinary studies are invited on, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Visual Arts and Contemporary Practices
- Design and Creative Futures
- Digital Art, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
- Art History, Theory and Aesthetics
- Architecture, Space and Urban Imagination
- Performing Arts and Intermedial Practices
- Visual Culture, Media and Society
- Heritage, Museums and Cultural Memory
- Art, Ecology and Decolonial Futures
- Art / Design Education and Creative Pedagogy
- Emerging Design Disciplines
Who Can Participate?
The conference welcomes contributions from:
- University and college faculty members
- Research scholars and independent researchers
- Practising artists, designers and architects
- Art historians, critics and curators
- Creative practitioners and cultural professionals
- Postgraduate students and early-career researchers
Submission Guidelines
The conference will follow a two-stage submission process.
Stage 1: Abstract Submission
Prospective participants are invited to submit abstracts of their proposed research papers.
- Length: 250–300 words.
- The abstract should clearly outline the research objectives, central argument, methodology and principal findings or anticipated contribution.
- Include 4–6 keywords.
- Provide the author’s full name, institutional affiliation and email address.
- Attach a brief author biography (approximately 100 words).
Abstracts will undergo academic screening by the Conference Academic Committee. Acceptance notifications will be communicated to the authors.
Stage 2: Conference Presentation
Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to present their research during the online conference on 18–19 December 2026.
Presentations will be followed by questions, comments and academic discussion. Detailed presentation guidelines, including time limits and technical instructions, will be communicated to registered participants.
Stage 3: Full Paper Submission for Publication
Following the conference, participants interested in publication may submit their complete manuscripts to Chitrolekha Journal for consideration.
- Full paper submission deadline: 31 January 2027.
- Recommended length: 5,000–7,000 words, including references.
- Referencing style: APA, 7th edition.
- Manuscripts must be original, unpublished and not under consideration by another journal.
- Submissions must demonstrate scholarly rigour, appropriate methodology and engagement with relevant academic literature.
- Authors are encouraged to incorporate relevant feedback received during the conference.
Submission of a full paper is optional and does not automatically qualify it for publication.
Publication Opportunity
Selected conference papers will be considered for publication in Chitrolekha Journal during 2027.
All submitted manuscripts will undergo editorial assessment and independent peer review in accordance with the journal’s editorial and publication ethics policies.
The journal reserves the right to accept, request revisions to or reject manuscripts based on their scholarly quality, relevance, originality and compliance with its publication standards.
Conference presentation does not guarantee publication. The publication fee will be payable only after final editorial acceptance.
Registration and Fees
The conference will follow a two-part fee structure, distinguishing conference presentation from subsequent journal publication.
- Conference Presentation Fee
| Author category | Fee per paper |
| Indian authors | INR 1,000 |
| Authors from middle-incomeconomies | INR 800 or equivalent |
| Authors from other country categories | INR 4,000 or equivalent |
The presentation fee is payable upon acceptance of the abstract and confirmation of participation.
- Journal Publication Fee
| Author category | Fee per accepted paper |
| Indian authors | INR 4,000 |
| Authors from middle-income economies | INR 3,000 or equivalent |
| Authors from other country categories | INR 8,000 or equivalent |
The publication fee is applicable only to manuscripts that successfully complete the journal’s peer-review and editorial process and receive final acceptance.
The presentation and publication fees are separate. Payment of the presentation fee does not guarantee publication.
For multi-authored papers, one designated presenting author may register and present on behalf of the co-authors. The fee structure applies per paper, not per co-author.
Important Dates
| Activity | Date |
| Call for Papers announcement | 6 November 2026 |
| Abstract submission deadline | 25 November 2026 |
| Abstract acceptance notification | 2 December 2026 |
| Presentation registration deadline | 10 December 2026 |
| Final conference programme | 14 December 2026 |
| Online conference | 18–19 December 2026 |
| Full paper submission deadline | 31 January 2027 |
| Publication of selected papers | March 2027 |
Conference Format
Chitro Nexus 2026 will be conducted entirely online to facilitate international participation and cross-border academic exchange.
The conference will feature:
- Inaugural and plenary sessions
- Keynote lectures by invited scholars and practitioners
- Thematic research paper presentations
- Interactive discussions and question-and-answer sessions
- Concluding session and conference reflections
The online platform, session schedules and technical instructions will be communicated to registered participants.
Organising Institution
Chitrolekha Journal
An interdisciplinary academic journal dedicated to research, critical inquiry and creative scholarship in art, culture and design.
School of Architecture Planning & Design, Sanjeev Agrawal Global Educational University, Bhopal
Conference Series: Chitro Nexus
Inaugural Edition: The Future of Art and Design
Abstract Submission: chiefeditor@chitrolekha.com
Conference Enquiries: 9174060387 / +91 70732 10759
Website: https://chitrolekha.com/
Convenor
Prof. Ritesh Ranjan, PhD, DLit, Dean, SoAP&D, SAGE University, Bhopal
Co- Convenor
Ms. Sushmita Shahi, Assistant Professor, SoAP&D, SAGE University, Bhopal