Deadline: Sept. 11, 2026
The Material Culture Workshop at the University of Cambridge invites submissions for 20 minute papers for our Michaelmas 2026 sessions on the theme “Re-Materialising: Navigating Transience and Absence.”
- How do we approach object-based studies without the object?
- How can we use extant archival material to “reconstruct” the material lives of groups and individuals traditionally underrepresented in institutional collections?
- How does the archive present challenges and opportunities as a material object itself?
This theme invites projects which challenge disciplinary divisions and embrace material culture studies of non-extant objects and understudied groups. Papers may engage with themes of fragmentation, archival absence, loss, transient objects/experiences, unconventional archival practice, and related topics.
The Material Culture Workshop is convened by postgraduate students Cecelia Eure and Robert Hewis and aims to highlight the work of early career researchers and practitioners in history, art history, archaeology, anthropology, cultural studies, and related disciplines. It is hosted in-person at the University of Cambridge and online at 5:30 pm every other Monday.
Submissions must include a title, abstract (250 words), and a brief bio, sent as a Word document to Cecelia Eure (cre48@cam.ac.uk) by 11 September 2026.
Contact Information
Faculty of History, University of Cambridge
Contact Email
cre48@cam.ac.uk