CALL FOR PAPERS

Symposium: New research into the History of National and International
Exhibitions, Festivals and World’s Fairs

Victoria & Albert Museum

Friday 4th March 2005

Students and staff of the Royal College of Art/ Victoria & Albert Museum's
department of History of Design invite scholars (postgraduate students and
faculty) who are currently researching aspects of the history of National
and International Exhibitions, Festivals and World’s Fairs to present
their work at a one-day symposium.

This event will be a forum for discussion of research questions and
methods and for this reason we are particularly keen to receive proposals
from scholars who are currently engaged in new research in any national/
international context.

Possible themes addressed by papers might include: the consumption and
reception of exhibitions and festivals; evolution of exhibition displays
before and after opening; the relationship between exhibitions or
festivals and government policy; exhibitions as narratives of progress/
nationhood etc; the presentation of designed goods; exhibitions or
festivals as enunciating difference; methodological problems raised by
research in this area.

To allow full discussion of common themes and concerns, speakers will be
allocated a 20-minute slot for the presentation of their papers.

The symposium will be held at in the Research Department of the Victoria
and Albert Museum in London on Friday 4th March 2005. The event will be
open to anyone with a research interest in the field, and no charge will
be made for participation. Please note that we are unable to support
travel or accommodation costs of participants.

Please send abstracts of up to 500 words and a covering letter to Harriet
Atkinson (RCA/ V&A History of Design) by e-mail to
harriet.atkinsonrca.ac.uk by 30th November 2004. Speakers will be
notified in early December 2004.

If you need any further information please contact Harriet Atkinson at
harriet.atkinsonrca.ac.uk or Lisa Godson at lisa.godsonrca.ac.uk.

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