Decomposition and Recomposition

Join us in fall 2026 for a Decomposium: a multi-day exploration of the inevitable processes of decay and renewal. We'll assemble artists, scholars, farmers, composers, soil scientists, poets, conservationists, death doulas, and entrepreneurs for performances, installations, meals, discussions, and rituals rooted in themes of decomposition, change, and ecological interdependence. Our primary hub will be the historic Park Hall in Sauk City, WI with additional satellite locations.

Have an idea?

We are currently seeking proposals for artworks, performances, workshops, discussions, and more to take place October 9-11, 2026 during the Decomposium. Selected contributors will co-create an immersive weekend that interrogates/celebrates decomposition as both a biological reality and a metaphor for cultural, social, and creative regeneration.

Learn more and submit a proposal by February 9!

From the archive

Farmer Jay in 2014

Decomposium 2026 is the resurrection of a project begun over a decade ago in conjunction with Fermentation Fest: A Live Culture Convergence, when we wallowed in and were inspired by the world of controlled rot. We believe this is an ideal time to reanimate the concept which acknowledges the inevitability of entropy and seeks to embrace it as a creative, generative process.