In partnership with VOLTA NY, artnet is curating a series of conversations that bring together movers and shakers from all areas of the art world—including artnet News’ own!—to engage in a lively salon-style discussion program. Topics range from the importance of activist art in an increasingly hostile political landscape, the changing roles of museums, an examination of the always-on-the-verge-of-bursting art market bubble, and an attempt to answer to the question, who are painters making art for today?

To get a taste of the thought-provoking discussions to come, check out the above video produced by GalleryLOG, featuring each of our panel moderators offering thoughts and initial ideas behind their respective panels. Once your interest is piqued, here is the full VOLTA panel schedule:

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 6:30 p.m.
CONFRONTING THE POLITICAL

Moderated by Brian Boucher, senior writer, artnet News

Featuring Molly Crabapple (artist and writer, author of Drawing Blood and contributing editor forVICE), Kameelah Janan Rasheed (artist, writer, arts editor of SPOOK, and contributing editor of The New Inquiry), Dread Scott (artist), and Hank Willis Thomas (artist).

How do artists engage with today’s most pressing social and political issues? Four hard-hitting artists will touch on issues like the upcoming presidential election, Islamophobia, and Black Lives Matter.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 4:00 p.m.
PAINTING’S PUBLICS: WHO ARE THE AUDIENCES FOR PAINTING TODAY?

Moderated Dushko Petrovich, artist and writer, co-founder of Paper Monument

Featuring Aruna D’Souza (writer), Torkwase Dyson (artist), Anthony Elms (curator, Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia), Gracie Mansion (senior specialist, artnet Auctions), and Carrie Moyer (artist)

This panel will address this apparently simple question from historical, economic, institutional, creative, and critical perspectives.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 6:00 p.m.
WHY ART COLLECTIVES NOW?

Moderated by Ben Davis, national art critic, artnet News

Featuring Seth Cameron (artist, Bruce High Quality Foundation), Katie Cercone (artist, Go! Push Pops), and Mark John Smith (artist, Franklin Collective)

Artist collectives have been gaining prominence, not just at the margins but at the very center of the art world. What is behind the turn to the collective in contemporary art, and what are the rewards and pitfalls?

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2:30 p.m.
IS THE ART MARKET IN A BUBBLE?

Moderated by Eileen Kinsella, senior market reporter, artnet News

Featuring Sally Morgan Lehman (owner and director, Morgan Lehman Gallery), Felix Salmon, (senior editor, FUSION), and Conner Williams (senior specialist of contemporary art, prints and multiples, artnet Auctions)

Does the era of eight- and nine-figure paintings at auction signal a new threshold of bullish buying or too much speculation? Is it cause for renewed optimism, or concern for irrational buying?

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 4:30 p.m.
VOICES OF THE MUSEUM

Moderated by Rozalia Jovanovic, editor in chief, artnet News

Featuring Holly Block (executive director, The Bronx Museum), JiaJia Fei (director of digital, Jewish Museum), and Karen Wong (deputy director, New Museum)

This panel will explore the many voices behind New York’s finest museums — including the entrepreneurial, the online, the international, and the community.