What does it mean to be happy? How does our personal happiness impact the making and performing of art? This online workshop for dancers, choreographers, musicians, painters, filmmakers, crafters, writers, actors—artists of any type—guides participants through deep discussions, investigates views by prominent philosophers and scientists, and provides opportunities for artistic sharing.

Guest Artist: Francisco Graciano has been declared a “virtuoso star” by The New York Times and has been hailed as a dancer with a “freshness that’s all his own” in Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” A performer in the Paul Taylor Dance Company from 2006–2017, Graciano is a dancer, choreographer, and photographer.

Guest Speaker: Michael Bishop is a professor of philosophy at Florida State University and author of The Good Life: Unifying the Philosophy and Psychology of Well-Being.

Facilitator: Daniel Smith is the Director of Artists Seeking Transcendence and an acclaimed pianist and composer best known for his work with leading dance institutions, including Martha Graham Dance Company and Suzanne Farrell Ballet.

Schedule

10:00–11:15 A Philosophy of Well-Being, featuring Michael Bishop

1:00–2:15 The Science of Happiness

4:00–5:15 Artistic Sharing

7:00–8:15 Finding Happiness

(All times are Eastern Time Zone.)

AST provides online workshops and master classes for artists that integrate philosophy, science, and aesthetics. Each of our events explores one of six core character attributes: happiness, wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, and temperance. We investigate leading philosophical and scientific understandings of these virtues and mentor artists as they wrestle with rich, enduring questions in the pursuits of bettering themselves and expanding their capacity to make impactful art. Our workshops and master classes are held online via group video chats (NOT webinars), allowing you to see and talk with us, our guests, and other participants from anywhere in the world. If you’re involved in an arts-related field and want to engage with passionate, insightful speakers and guest artists, you’ve come to the right place!

For additional information, visit ArtistsSeekingTranscendence.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.