Directed and founded by Jen Delos Reyes in 2007, the conference incorporates workshops, exhibitions, residencies, pedagogy, curatorial practice and collaborative projects.
[1] The conference offers a primary site where practitioners convene annually to take stock of the field, playing host to artists and activists.
[2] In 2010 Open Engagement moved to Portland State University, planned in conjunction with the Art and Social Practice students, continuing under the leadership of Delos Reyes.
Through conversations, interviews, open reflection on experiences, and related projects created for or presented at the conference, five themes were examined: Peoples and Publics, Social Economies, In Between Places, Tracking and Tracing, and Sentiment and Strategies.
[4] The 2012 Open Engagement featured presentations from keynote speakers Tania Bruguera, Shannon Jackson and Paul Ramirez Jonas.
A Blade of Grass was the year's organizational partner and the conference featured keynote presentations by Emily Jacir and Rick Lowe.
The 2016 conference theme, POWER, was guided by the curatorial vision of René de Guzman and featured keynote speakers Angela Davis and Suzanne Lacy.