TULSA, Oklahoma – The University of Tulsa Institute for Bob Dylan Studies and the Bob Dylan Archive will host an international symposium – titled the World of Bob Dylan – that covers the Nobel laureate’s music, life, work and context. The event is scheduled from May 30 to June 2, 2019, and will gather scholars, critics, musicians, fans and experts from around the world for panels, lectures, exhibitions, performances and more. Selections from the Bob Dylan Archive will be on display at Gilcrease Museum, and at least one keynote event will focus on the rich collection of materials and the unique insights it offers into the songwriter’s creative exploration and reinvention of American music.
“This archive offers us an extraordinary opportunity to better understand the range and inventiveness of one of the world’s most influential artists,” said Sean Latham, institute director. “We plan for this to become a regular event as we continue to transform Tulsa into a global center for the study of Dylan and popular music.” The symposium will gather experts from many fields and backgrounds including music scholars, historians, collectors, performers and fans. Events will take place at TU’s Helmerich Center for American Research and throughout downtown Tulsa and the Tulsa Arts District.
Among the events already planned are panels featuring musicians who performed with Dylan, a special concert in the Tulsa Arts District, a deep dive into the archive and special listening parties guided by critics and scholars. “At its core, this is a research conference designed to develop new insight into Dylan and his world,” Latham said, “but we also want to emphasize the ways in which his music can become a catalyst for community conversation and engagement.”
The event is sponsored by TU’s Institute for Bob Dylan Studies, Gilcrease Museum, the Bob Dylan Archive and numerous university departments, including English, history, art and music. Keynote events will be announced during the coming months. For more information, including a call for proposals, news about speakers, and updated schedules, visit dylantest.wpengine.com.