The VLC Forum 2026: Matter of Intelligence celebrates the work of Rosana Paulino, recipient of the 2025–2027 Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice, and the Jane Lombard Fellows. Alongside the prize presentation and exhibition, keynote lecture, and conversations, the VLC Community Dinner gathers program participants and our communities for an evening of collective imagining. 

This year’s VLC Community Dinner, Dream Futures, explores dreaming, divining, and futuretelling as powerful forms of intelligence. We convene around shared food, rituals, and artistic interventions, including a new performance by Oglála Lakȟóta artist and VLC Board member Kite, Tȟokátakiya Owótȟaŋla na Awíyuškiŋphiča [A Just and Joyful Future] (For the Vera List Center), with soloist Robbie Wing and an ensemble of New School students, Campfire Cards, an artistic provocation by 2025–2027 Jane Lombard Fellow Stephanie Dinkins, and a DJ set by Moniki.

Held at The New School in the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Commons Cafeteria and free and open to all, the annual VLC Community Dinner is designed as the “alt gala,” an act of radical hospitality, and an invitation to imagine, rehearse, and enact collective futurity.

The 2026 VLC Community Dinner is made possible by the support of our dinner co-chairs: Critical Minded, Christopher K. Ho, Chus Martínez, and Christian Nyampeta.

We are also grateful for the collaboration of our dinner co-hosts: Libertad Guerra, Pablo Helguera, Stefanie Hessler, Joyce Joumaa, Alhena Katsof, Natasha Lennard, Le’Andra LeSeur, Nontsikelelo Mutiti, Nat Roe, Kira Xonorika, and Ilk Yasha.