As announced on social media in mid-November, it is with deep regret that the Urban Sketchers Executive Board and Urban Sketchers Hong Kong announces that the 2020 Symposium will not be held in Hong Kong and is cancelled for 2020.
Please read on for a message from the Hong Kong Symposium team and Urban Sketchers Hong Kong.
In light of the most recent developments in the city, the Hong Kong Symposium Team expresses its concern for the safety (and fun) of each and every participant. Since this is no longer assured, Hong Kong is regretfully withdrawing as the host city for next year’s International Urban Sketchers Symposium.
The Hong Kong Team is enthusiastic that when their beloved city is back to being stable and able, it will be a much better time to showcase her at her finest.
We thank everyone in Urban Sketchers Hong Kong for the passion, responsibility, hard work and enthusiasm that they have put forward. We wish for better times for Hong Kong. Our thoughts are with you.
We understand the importance of the International Urban Sketchers Symposium to our community, so cancelling the event was not an easy decision to make. Our symposiums require 12 to 18 months of planning to be successful. This planning time is necessary to coordinate educational, operational, logistic and sponsorship aspects to ensure the event is both enjoyable for participants and sustainable for the organization.
To accomplish this effort this year is too large a burden to put on any local chapter and the symposium team. We recognize the enthusiasm and thank those that offered suggestions and ideas. USk members are amazing!
There will still be ways to connect in 2020! To celebrate our global community, Urban Sketchers has set a goal to support the USk mission on the six continents with Urban Sketchers chapters. Stay informed through our website, social media channels, and Drawing Attention in 2020 for more information about upcoming opportunities. We appreciate your interest and support as we make arrangements for these new opportunities.
For any inquiries regarding future events, please contact events@urbansketchers.org
In light of the most recent developments in the city, the Hong Kong Symposium Team expresses its concern for the safety (and fun) of each and every participant. Since this is no longer assured, Hong Kong is regretfully withdrawing as the host city for next year’s International Urban Sketchers Symposium.
The Hong Kong Team is enthusiastic that when their beloved city is back to being stable and able, it will be a much better time to showcase her at her finest.
Thank You & Official Hashtag #USKHK2020
This last month after #uskAmsterdam2019, many were reliving Amsterdam’s sketching high, carrying on with their next destinations, settling back at home, or writing proposals for next year’s big adventure!
With a shorter time frame for the Symposium in Hong Kong, hats off to everyone who wrote and submitted for next year’s programming! Thank you very much for your interest and participation to be part of the faculty. We received a lot of proposals and excited about what’s in store.
Our Education Committee is doing its best, evaluating each of them. It is always a hard task with the amount of brilliant proposals that we get each year. Stay tuned for the registration and programming information which will be announced in November 2019.
The hashtag to follow is #USkHK2020.
Subscribe to our social media channels to have the latest Symposium updates.
Happy sketching!
Hong Kong to Host Urban Sketchers International Symposium 2020 8-11 APRIL 2020
Hong Kong’s proposal brings together a juxtaposition of old and new. “Asia’s World City”, for all its reputation as a fast-paced bustling den of of business, has also remaining pockets where traditions run deep and life looks very much the same as it was decades ago.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The 11th Urban Sketchers Symposium is on April 8-11, 2020. We are seeking proposals for Workshops, Demonstrations, Lectures and Skit Sketch by Sunday, 18th August, 2019 (11:59 pm GMT). Selected proposals will be notified by end of October 2019.
(You can see past symposium programming for 2019 here, 2018 here, 2017 here and 2016 here)

Get ready to walk into shiny newness and grit from a bygone era. There’s an abundance of sketchable corners buzzing with adventure, culture, great food, fast connectivity and friendly sketchbook throwdowns! The active community of Hong Kong sketchers believe that it’s time to share the secrets and wonders of their city with the rest of the urban sketching world.
The Pearl of the Orient awaits everyone for a wild, unforgettable drawing adventure in 2020.
It’s happening on 8-11 April 2020. Standby for more details.
Call for Programming
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The 11th Urban Sketchers Symposium is on April 8-11, 2020. We are seeking proposals for Workshops, Demonstrations, Lectures and Skit Sketch by Sunday, 18th August, 2019 (11:59 pm GMT). Selected proposals will be notified by end of October 2019.
(You can see past symposium programming for 2019 here, 2018 here, 2017 here and 2016 here)
WORKSHOPS
Workshops are presented as a more formal educational experience with a smaller group (a maximum of 15 participants), allowing for personal interaction with students. Instructors are expected to do a short demonstration, have one-on-one interaction with participants, and check on them during their exercises.
We are also seeking sketchers to share urban sketcher stories, sketching technique, sketching materials and present a DEMO, LECTURE or SKIT SKETCH presentation related to sketching.
DEMO (for non-Workshop Instructors)
Demo allows you to conduct a live demonstration of your own work, your sketching methods or your tools. Your consent will be asked when you submit proposals regarding the filming of lecture sessions and that they may be shared online on USk platforms.
LECTURE
Lectures allows you to share your own work, research, urban sketching stories, the work of other sketchers, sketching history, or another topic of interest or concern to fellow sketchers. A projector will be provided. Your consent will be asked when you submit proposals regarding the filming of lecture sessions and that they may be shared online on USk platforms.
We are also seeking sketchers to share urban sketcher stories, sketching technique, sketching materials and present a talk related to sketching.
Skit Sketch is a ‘lightning talk’ presentation which allows you to share your own work, urban sketching stories, the work of other sketchers, sketching history, or another topic of interest or concern to fellow sketchers. A projector will be provided. Your consent will be asked when you submit proposals regarding the filming of lecture sessions and that they may be shared online on USk platforms.
SOME DETAILS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE DRAFTING YOUR PROPOSAL:
You can propose a Workshop or Demo for a specific spot or a general location. We recommend you to get to know the possible locations before you create your proposal, in order to match your idea with the city’s environment.
WHERE TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS
All proposals must be emailed to symposium@urbansketchers.org
DEADLINE
All proposals are due by Sunday, 18th August, 2019 (11:59 pm GMT).
LINKS TO ALL CALL FOR PROGRAMMING FORMS
If you are proposing a Workshop, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
If you are proposing a Demo, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
If you are proposing a Lecture, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
If you are proposing a Skit Sketch presentation, you must download this form and include 20 images intended for the slide presentation, inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
Workshops are presented as a more formal educational experience with a smaller group (a maximum of 15 participants), allowing for personal interaction with students. Instructors are expected to do a short demonstration, have one-on-one interaction with participants, and check on them during their exercises.
- Duration and Frequency: All workshops will be 3 hours and taught up to three times over the course of the Symposium
- Capacity: Focused instruction for up to 15 participants in each session.
- Demo : Instructor will conduct a 40 minutes demonstration (incl 10min Q&A) with up to 25 participants, preferably in line with their workshop, during the symposium (venue can be their workshop location)
- Compensation: If your proposal is selected, you receive a free registration for the Symposium, travel and accommodation. Instructors will receive an honorarium of $100 (or equivalent in local currency), for conducting all workshop sessions, including Demo, as stated above.
- If you are proposing a Workshop, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
We are also seeking sketchers to share urban sketcher stories, sketching technique, sketching materials and present a DEMO, LECTURE or SKIT SKETCH presentation related to sketching.
DEMO (for non-Workshop Instructors)
Demo allows you to conduct a live demonstration of your own work, your sketching methods or your tools. Your consent will be asked when you submit proposals regarding the filming of lecture sessions and that they may be shared online on USk platforms.
- Duration and Frequency: 40 mins Demo presentation, 10 mins Q&A session and will only be conducted once.
- Capacity: up to 25 participants in each session.
- Compensation: If your proposal is selected, you will be entitled early registration, and will receive an honorarium of $100 (or equivalent in local currency).
- If you are proposing a Demo, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
LECTURE
Lectures allows you to share your own work, research, urban sketching stories, the work of other sketchers, sketching history, or another topic of interest or concern to fellow sketchers. A projector will be provided. Your consent will be asked when you submit proposals regarding the filming of lecture sessions and that they may be shared online on USk platforms.
- Duration and Frequency: 40 mins Lecture presentation, 10mins Q&A session and will only be conducted once.
- Capacity: All interested participants are welcome.
- Compensation: If your proposal is selected, you will be entitled early registration, and will receive an honorarium of $100 (or equivalent in local currency).
- If you are proposing a Lecture, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
We are also seeking sketchers to share urban sketcher stories, sketching technique, sketching materials and present a talk related to sketching.
Skit Sketch is a ‘lightning talk’ presentation which allows you to share your own work, urban sketching stories, the work of other sketchers, sketching history, or another topic of interest or concern to fellow sketchers. A projector will be provided. Your consent will be asked when you submit proposals regarding the filming of lecture sessions and that they may be shared online on USk platforms.
- Duration and Frequency: a presentation with 20 auto-advance slides at 20 seconds each (6 minutes and 40 seconds in total) and will only be conducted once. (similar to the format of Pecha Kucha or Ignite)
- Capacity: All interested participants are welcome.
- Compensation: If your proposal is selected, you will be entitled early registration, and will receive an honorarium of $100 (or equivalent in local currency).
- If you are proposing a Skit Sketch presentation, you must download this form and include 20 images intended for the slide presentation, inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
SOME DETAILS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE DRAFTING YOUR PROPOSAL:
You can propose a Workshop or Demo for a specific spot or a general location. We recommend you to get to know the possible locations before you create your proposal, in order to match your idea with the city’s environment.
- Views of boats on a waterway.
- A quaint neighborhood with close-set buildings and many bars and eateries.
- A lush green park with some views of urban buildings from various vantage points.
- A pond with fish and turtles.
- Ancient trees with twisting trunks.
- A busy older neighborhood with lots of hustle and bustle.
- Street markets with vendors selling fresh produce.
- A small place of worship set against a large boulder.
- A charming outdoor eating area.
- A large aviary with a walkway through the trees.
- A park with cityscape views.
- An old cathedral.
- A street-level tram stop
- An elevated walkway with green and city views.
- A pedestrian alley with sculpture, trees and colorful views.
- All participants will be advised to gather with their Instructors at the Meeting place, before setting out to Workshop locations.
- Workshop locations are subject to change and the organizers reserve the right to make the best arrangements and combinations of Workshops/Demos and locations.
- Learn more about how to prepare a successful workshop proposal.
- The official language of the Symposium is English.
WHERE TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS
DEADLINE
All proposals are due by Sunday, 18th August, 2019 (11:59 pm GMT).
LINKS TO ALL CALL FOR PROGRAMMING FORMS
If you are proposing a Workshop, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
If you are proposing a Demo, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
If you are proposing a Lecture, you must download this form, complete your copy and include your sample sketches inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).
If you are proposing a Skit Sketch presentation, you must download this form and include 20 images intended for the slide presentation, inside the proposal document (not as separate attachments).