Emerging Researchers in British Art Opportunity: Papers in Progress Materialities
- 30 September 2026
Papers in Progress: MATERIALITIES invites members of Emerging Researchers in British Art (ERBA) to share works in progress focused on material and its conceptual understandings. From the rise in art historical analysis which integrates political, economic and technical considerations of artworks, to artistic research into how materials shift or shape worldviews, to historical accounts of material change or degradation of works and considerations of their preservation, submissions to this Papers in Progress session could consider:
- the changing role of material and material study in art history's methodologies
- material as a route into tracing “other” histories (colonial, migratory, religious)
- materiality as an artistic approach or concern
- how the physical impact of art making or collecting relates to the climate crisis or other societal concerns
- what happens when artworks degrade
- precarity and material goods in relation to artistic livelihoods
- material cultures around or within British art
The emphasis here is on drafts: submit a rough idea, a new departure or an experiment and, if selected, you will be invited to present for ten minutes with a group of peers. Papers in Progress aims to support the honing of future articles, writing or research by offering you a low-stakes opportunity to share and receive feedback on work in development.
If you are interested in participating in our Papers in Progress: MATERIALITIES session, please fill out this form with your contact details and 150 words outlining your research’s connection to the theme by Monday 19 October.
We welcome Expressions of Interest from network members at any stage of their career, whether they are completing their master's or emerging researchers. If you have any questions about your proposal, please contact Sophie Mak-Schram on erba@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk
Presenters will be chosen by lottery, and all other interested parties will be welcome to join the conversation by feeding back on the material they present.
We understand that you may wish to incorporate the use of AI tools when submitting your expression of interest in this session. Use of AI tools for clarity of language is permitted, but we would like to ask that all ideas are your own and an accurate reflection of your research.
We plan to hold more Papers in Progress sessions across the 2026–27 programme year. Find out about future sessions in upcoming ERBA newsletters, which are received by all members of the network.