Decomposium with Wormfarm Institute

Embracing the Inevitability of Decay

Decomposium, October 9-11, 2026, is a three-day, multidisciplinary symposium that explores the science, art, and rituals of decay and renewal. Wormfarm celebrates decomposition as a generative, creative process that breaks down matter, releases essential elements, and supports new growth.

Collaborators
We’ve curated a cohort of more than 20 Decomposium collaborators, including artists, scholars, farmers, composers, soil scientists, poets, conservationists, and death workers.

Dig into Death and Renewal
Performances, installations, discussions, and rituals rooted in themes of rot and repair, change and resilience will unfold across indoor and outdoor sites in the Sauk Prairie region, and reflect a wide range of approaches across disciplines, geographies, and cultural traditions.
The symposium emerges at a pivotal moment for Wormfarm, following the conclusion of the Farm/Art DTour and marking the organization’s transition into a new phase of work.

Historic Sauk City Setting

Park Hall (Freethinkers’ Hall) in Sauk City serves as the hub for Decomposium, with additional programming in the adjacent Freethinkers Park and a nearby cemetery. Freethinkers’ Hall is a meaningful partner in hosting this gathering; it was intentionally selected for its historical significance, and alignment with values of free inquiry and open dialogue.