Posted by on 2020-01-23

BACLS-WHN 2021 and 2023 Call for Host Institutions Now Open!

We are currently accepting offers of interest to host the biannual BACLS-WHN main conferences in 2021 and 2023, to take place in the Spring/Summer period of 2021 and 2023.

As part of the process of hosting BACLS-WHN you will work with the BACLS Conference Organiser, James Peacock. We encourage the host institution to present a programme that highlights their own expertise and local interests, as well as adhering to BACLS’ general principles. Although What Happens Now will be hosted by a different institution each event, we are committed to keeping a core BACLS programme of contemporary literary studies and early career academic advocacy work in place. Each What Happens Now will feature:

• A session devoted to pedagogy and teacher training in the field
• A session devoted to PGR and ECR professional development in the field
• A reception for the announcement of book and essay prizes
• A BACLS Annual General Meeting
• The Lincoln Lecture (details below)

The ‘What Happens Now’ conferences originated at the University of Lincoln, where four were held biennially from 2010-2016. The conferences helped to provide a forum for and give shape to an emerging community of contemporary literary studies scholars. In recognition of Lincoln’s role, the BACLS What Happens Now conference series includes the ‘Lincoln Lecture’ as part of its proceedings. The Lincoln Lecture should be a plenary slot (keynote speaker, roundtable, Q&A or other format) on any topic related to Contemporary Literary Studies.

Support for the BACLS-WHN conference

In addition to working with the BACLS conference organiser, the BACLS treasury will provide a grant of £1000 to the host institution. This money is part of the organisation’s annual budget and thus is issued only after the next year’s budget is approved. Any unused funds should be returned to us as a ‘seed corn’ gift for the next BACLS-WHN.

So, please apply to host 2021 or 2023!

If you would like to host BACLS-WHN 2021 or 2023 please send an application to bacls.whn@gmail.com. Please note, that BACLS-WHN organisers should be current members of BACLS. Applications are particularly welcome from institutions in Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland.

Applications should be no more than three pages and include:
a) the year in which you would like to host the conference (2021 or 2023) and the reasons why you are interested in hosting. You might like to include information relating to how hosting BACLS-WHN fits/connects with the research culture/environment in your department or school, details of anticipated plenary speakers and authors, or plenary speakers and authors who will be invited.
b) how you will consider our general principles
c) a proposed timetable
d) a brief statement detailing how you have considered inclusivity in your conference planning
e) a draft budget

Please send your application as an attachment to bacls.whn@gmail.com by the end of the day on Friday 27 March 2020.
If you have any questions, please email bacls.whn@gmail.com or the conference and events organiser, James Peacock, at j.h.peacock@keele.ac.uk