[csaa-forum] Crossroads in Cultural Studies - CALL FOR HOST: 2016 and beyond

[Gilbert B. Rodman]

For Immediate Release

The Association for Cultural Studies (ACS) seeks proposals from 
institutions interested in hosting the biennial “Crossroads in Cultural 
Studies” conference in 2016 and beyond. Founded in 2002, the Association 
for Cultural Studies (ACS) aims at forming and promoting an effective 
worldwide community of cultural studies. It is intended as a tool for 
building strong interdisciplinary and transnational connections by 
offering meaningful meeting places for the great diversity of committed 
scholars in this field. The ACS helps establish, maintain and strengthen 
contacts between cultural studies scholars and workers across different 
disciplines and within as well as between the different countries and 
regions of the world, by spreading information and encouraging 
collaborative work, facilitating the creation and linking of local, 
national and regional cultural studies groups.

The most important events that the ACS organizes to achieve these 
objectives are the "Crossroads in Cultural Studies" conferences, which 
were started in 1996 in Tampere, Finland. Although cultural studies was 
becoming increasingly international and multi-centered – or rather 
centerless because of its virtual nature – cultural studies people had 
scarce opportunities to see each other, to exchange ideas and to 
socialize. The "Crossroads in Cultural Studies" conferences were 
designed to fill this gap in the cultural studies community. The 
conference is not organized around specific themes, though visible 
subthemes inform plenary and spotlight sessions as well as individual 
panels.

The 2014 conference will be held in Tampere, Finland. Previous locations 
include:
• Tampere, Finland
• Birmingham, England
• Urbana, Illinois, USA
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Kingston, Jamaica
• Lingnan, Hong Kong
• Paris, France

Conference proposals should address the following details:
• Concept / vision for the conference (including its contribution to 
regional and global development of cultural studies)
• Likely institutional support (financial, facilities, labor)
• Description of the main conference venue(s)
• Conference activities / format (including ancillary activities, such 
as tours, receptions, etc.)
• Anticipated members of planning and program committees
• Schedule of important dates (for the overall planning of the 
conference, publicity, CFPs, and the actual conference dates)
• Description of local facilities for travel / lodging / meals 
(airports, shuttle buses, hotels, dorms, restaurants, catering, etc.)
• Anticipated budget
• The year(s) for which your proposal is intended (e.g., 2016, 2018, 2020)
The overall proposal should demonstrate sufficient facilities and 
support for at least 500 attendees for a span of 4-5 days.

We are open to proposals from anywhere in the world but, for 2016, we 
are especially interested in proposals from institutions located in the 
global South.

Please direct any inquiries to:
ACS Administrative Secretary
info at cultstud.org

Proposals should be submitted to info at cultstud.org by 15 January 2014