BACLS-WHN 2023 Call for Host Institutions Now Open! BACLS-WHN 2023 Call for Host Institutions Now Open!
Posted by on 2022-07-01

We are currently accepting offers of interest to host the biannual BACLS-WHN main conference in early September 2023. *DEADLINE for EoIs EXTENDED to 16th September 2022*

BACLS is planning to return to campus for its 2023 conference, after very successful online conferences in 2020 and 2021, and we are inviting expressions of interest from potential host institutions. As part of the process of hosting BACLS-WHN you will work with the BACLS Conference Organiser, currently 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 the support of the BACLS conference organising team, BACLS 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 in 2023 by 16th September 2022!

If you would like to host BACLS-WHN 2023 please send an application to bacls.whn@gmail.com and copy to j.h.peacock@keele.ac.uk. 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:

  • 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.
  • Whether you propose a campus-only or hybrid format
  • how you will consider our general principles
  • a proposed timetable
  • a brief statement detailing how you have considered equality, diversity and inclusion in your conference planning
  • a draft budget

Please send your application as an attachment to bacls.whn@gmail.com and j.h.peacock@keele.ac.uk by the end of the day on Friday 16th September 2022. If you have any questions, please email the Conference and Events Organiser, James Peacock, at j.h.peacock@keele.ac.uk

Back to News List