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Toronto-area meeting of
researchers working
on empirical aesthetics and creativity
April 14th, 2026
Paul Cadario Conference Centre
Croft Chapter House, University College
TASC 2026 brings together researchers, scholars, and students from across the Greater Toronto Area (and beyond) with interest in empirical aesthetics, psychology of art, and the study of creativity in its many forms. This one-day gathering highlights local scholarship, builds connections across institutions and disciplines, and sparks new conversations about the ways we understand and investigate aesthetic experience and creative practice.
We welcome submissions from students, early-career researchers, and established scholars across disciplines. The deadline for submissions is January 16, 2026. The submission portal opens in December.
If this piques your interest and you want to stay informed, then please add your contact information to the email list by clicking the button below.
Mark your calendars, and join us in celebrating and advancing the vibrant study of aesthetics and creativity in Toronto. We look forward to seeing you at TASC 2026!
Keynote Speakers
Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva
Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva
(University of British Columbia)
Dr. Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva is a Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Their work focuses on understanding human thought, using a combination of functional neuroimaging (fMRI), behavioral testing, and theoretical work. They have served as the Interim Director of the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.
Gerald Cupchik
Gerald Cupchik
(University of Toronto Scarborough)
Professor Gerald C. Cupchik has studied the processes underlying the perception of art and the reading of literature for more than fifty years. He served as President of the International Association for Empirical Aesthetics, welcoming colleagues from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and later as President of APA Division 10, where he led efforts to incorporate creativity and emphasized graduate participation in international congresses and conferences.
Directions
Public Transport:
By subway to St. George or Queen’s Park Station
By 506 Carlton Streetcar to McCaul Street
By 94 Bus to St. George Street
Parking:
Underground parking underneath King’s College Circle at a cost of $18 per day.
Entrance: Wellesley Street from Queen’s Park.Metered street parking on Hoskin Avenue or nearby streets
Organizers
Dirk Bernhardt-Walther (University of Toronto)
Oshin Vartanian (University of Toronto)
Lauren Fink (McMaster University)
Steven Brown (McMaster University)
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