The Art & Cartography commission aims to:
1. Explore the art element of cartography. Art in cartography means much more than designing aesthetically pleasing maps. Exploring the interaction at large between art and cartography involves rethinking the way we approach spatial expressions. This entails: developing an inclusive approach of artistic mapping expressions; facilitating and encouraging interaction between cartographers who work with the Art aspects of cartography and artists who produce cartographic artifacts; and developing conceptual elements about the relationships between art and cartography.
2. Facilitate interdisciplinary cross-fertilisation of ideas and practices. Cartographers, artists, students, researchers from the humanities need to work collaboratively in order to redefine the contours of the relationships between arts and cartography. Real interdisciplinary activities call for special measures, such as developing a common language and a mutual understanding; promoting the development of hybrid cartographic practices; and supporting the diversification of activities that enable exchanges and interactions (e.g. workshops, festivals, performances).
3. Produce knowledge and new forms of cartographic expression and disseminate them to both an academic audience (e.g. publication of special issues and edited collections) and to the general public (e.g. blog posts, screenings, exhibitions, public talks).