BARS Blog

The British Association for Romantic Studies invites expressions of interest from Romanticists who would like to serve on the judging panel for the next BARS First Book Prize. The prize has been awarded since 2013, and the last award was made at the 2024 BARS conference, covering books published in 2021 and 2022. The previous judging panel has advised that it would be helpful to bring the prize back into sync with BARS’ biennial conference. Therefore, the next Book Prize will be open to first books published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025 and will be awarded at the ‘Romantic Retrospection’ conference at the University of Birmingham in 2026. To adjust for the longer window, the panel will have discretion to set out a more extensive shortlist, make further honourable mentions and/or select joint winners. Future prizes will return to a biennial rhythm.

For the 2026 BARS First Book Prize, we are looking for both a Book Prize Chair (who will co-ordinate the judging process and serve as a co-opted member of the BARS Executive until the prize is awarded at the Birmingham conference) and panel readers (who will read and assess submissions and play a full part in shortlisting and awarding). Applications from Early Career Researchers for reader roles are particularly welcomed (although please note that books by the judging panel will not be eligible for the prize).

If you are interested in being involved with the 2026 BARS First Book Prize, please send an Expression of Interest consisting of a current CV and a short covering letter describing what you would bring to the judging panel to the BARS Secretary, Andrew McInnes (bars.secretary@gmail.com). Any questions can be directed to BARS’ President, Matthew Sangster (matthew.sangster@glasgow.ac.uk). Expressions of Interest will be welcomed until 22nd August 2025. Submission instructions for the prize itself will be circulated during the autumn.

The British Association for Romantic Studies invites self-nominations from those who would like to stand for positions on the Executive. As per the Constitution, elections are held for around half of the positions on the Executive each year.

There are six posts for which elections are being held this summer. Descriptions of the purviews and responsibilities of all these roles can be seen on the BARS Blog.

All six posts are open for self-nominations by BARS members who would like to stand for election.

Five of the posts have incumbents who have served one term and plan to stand again:

• Vice President (Jennifer Orr)
• Secretary (Andrew McInnes)
• Membership Secretary (Yimon Lo)
• Communications Officer (Amy Wilcockson)
• Bursaries Officer (Gerard McKeever)

One post is open:

• International Officer

Francesca Saggini has been working in the role of International Officer for the last two years, having previously been the chair of the BARS First Book Prize – BARS is very grateful to her for her service and her many contributions.

If you would like to stand for election for any of these roles, please send a statement to Matthew Sangster (matthew.sangster@glasgow.ac.uk) and Mary Fairclough (bars.treasurer@gmail.com), who will be administering this election on behalf of BARS. Statements should briefly describe your vision for the role, your relevant experience and the talents you would bring to the BARS Executive. Statements should be received by 11:59 UK Time on Friday August 22^nd. All those standing for election must be members of BARS.

After this deadline, a list of candidates for each role and their statements will be published on the BARS Blog and electronic voting will be opened to the membership.

Any questions regarding the roles or the electoral process can be directed to Matt and Mary using the addresses above.

BARS is currently also seeking a chair and members for the jury of the next First Book Prize – please see the details here.

Please see below for descriptions of the six roles for which BARS is holding elections in the summer of 2025. Details of the self-nomination process can be found here.

Vice President

As one of the prominent ‘faces’ of the BARS, the Vice President supports the President in the strategic leadership of the organisation. They consult with the Executive and, as appropriate, the membership on policy and initiatives. They will normally attend all regular BARS meetings and may deputise for the President if necessary. The role has in previous years served as a ‘stepping stone’ to President, but in more recent years has evolved towards an independent role with a strong focus on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as well as the role-holder’s specific interests. In addition to leadership, the Vice President will normally serve as needed on a number of ad-hoc committees throughout the Executive’s function e.g. working groups, prize adjudication, review of applications.

Secretary

The role of BARS Secretary is primarily administrative (supporting the business of the Executive, setting up of meetings and circulation of documents and communications from the membership), but it is also an exciting opportunity to develop a portfolio in the individual’s areas of interest. It is an ideal way to become familiar with all aspects of BARS’ organisation.

Responsibilities and Key Activities

• Keeping and verifying minutes of BARS meetings.
• Liaising with Executive members to arrange regular meetings online (usually five a year) in consultation with the President and Vice President.
• Liaising with the President and Vice President to organise the BARS General Meeting, which takes place online in odd years and at the BARS Conference in even years.
• Preparation of agendas for meetings.
• Liaising with Executive members to procure short reports on each officer’s area of responsibility and circulating these prior to meetings.
• Upkeep of the BARS archive.
• Forwarding queries to relevant officers.
• Circulating Conference Subvention requests to the Executive for approval and communicating the decision to the applicant.
• Joining ad-hoc working groups and committees as and when needed.

Membership Secretary

The Membership Secretary oversees all aspects of the Society’s membership administration and development. Working closely with the Executive Committee, the Membership Secretary ensures the efficient management of the Society’s membership database, supports recruitment and retention, and acts as a key point of contact for members.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date membership records.
• Support and strengthen the Society’s engagement with its Members.
• Oversee the processing of subscriptions and renewals in coordination with the Treasurer.
• Respond to membership queries and assist with day-to-day support for BARS Members.
• Collaborate with the Executive to promote membership benefits and increase recruitment.

Key Activities

• Maintain and regularly update the Society’s membership database, tracking member contact details and payment status.
• Liaise with the Treasurer to process and monitor subscription payments, including shared oversight of the Society’s PayPal account.
• Respond to enquiries from prospective and current Members in a timely, professional, and welcoming manner.
• Support the President and PGR/ECR Representatives in reviewing Members’ needs, requests, and feedback.
• Collaborate with the Communications Officer and Website Officer to ensure that membership information and calls (e.g. for renewals, ballots, prizes, and events) are circulated promptly and clearly.
• Contribute to the Society’s recruitment strategies, helping to ensure that membership is inclusive, diverse, and representative of the Romantic studies community.
• Work with relevant officers (e.g. Education and Schools Liaison, Outreach and Impact, and International Officer) to promote membership across diverse academic and educational contexts.
• Provide regular reports on membership figures and trends to the Executive Committee and, where relevant, to the Society’s General Meeting.
• Assist with the organisation of ballots, elections, and bursary or award applications, including monitoring eligibility and membership status in coordination with the Bursaries Officer.
• Ensure compliance with relevant data protection legislation in storing and managing personal information.
• Support the Executive Committee in maintaining a welcoming and responsive atmosphere for all Members.

Communications Officer

The Communications Officer is the public face of BARS, interacting with members regularly in their role overseeing the Association’s social media accounts and Blog. Working closely with the Executive Committee, the Communications Officer disseminates BARS news and member notices.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Work alongside all members of BARS Executive to circulate BARS news.
• Work alongside BARS Members to share their notices.
• Circulate the weekly updates of news and notices via the Mailbase.
• Oversee and create content for social media accounts (Bluesky, Facebook, TikTok).
• Oversee and create content for the BARS Blog.
• Consider how to increase engagement with blog and social media followers.
• Recruit and supervise new Communications Fellow/s each year.
• Attend regular Executive Committee meetings.
• Serve on sub-committees as appropriate (e.g. judging panels for bursaries).

Key Activities

• Respond to enquiries regarding the mailing list and circulating of notices in a timely, professional, and welcoming manner.
• Oversee the Communications Fellow/s contributions to the blog/social media platforms.
• Work alongside the Membership Secretary to check the status of members, add new members to the BARS Mailbase, and circulate specific members-only emails.
• Work alongside the Bursaries Officer to ensure all bursary opportunities are circulated promptly and clearly.
• Work alongside the PGR/ECR Representatives to ensure news of the PGR/ECR Conference is circulated promptly and clearly.
• Work with the wider Executive to share all other BARS news and notices.
• Work alongside the external organisers of the Biennial Conference to ensure all news and notices regarding the conference are shared promptly and clearly.
• Provide regular reports on the duties of the role to the Executive Committee and the Society’s General Meetings.
• Support the Executive by serving on sub-committees as appropriate.
• Support the Executive Committee in maintaining a welcoming and responsive atmosphere for all social media followers, Mailbase readers and BARS members.

Bursaries Officer

The Bursaries Officer is responsible for administering BARS’ funding schemes, co-ordinating advertising, working with panels of Executive members to make decisions, and communicating with those applying for and undertaking funded activities supported by BARS.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Administer BARS’ regular funding schemes, including the Stephen Copley Research Awards, the Open Fellowship and the President’s Fellowship.
• Co-ordinate with partner organisations with whom BARS supports fellowships, such as the Wordsworth Trust and Chawton House.
• Advertise funding schemes in a timely manner each round.
• Convene decision panels.
• Communicate clearly, sensitively and effectively with applicants and awardees.

Key Activities

• Work with the Communications Officer to advertise BARS’ funding schemes.
• Answer questions from applicants and potential applicants about the schemes.
• Convene and chair a panel of Executive members after the closure of each application round to review applications and decide on awards, following the criteria set out for each scheme.
• Communicate decisions to all applicants.
• Liaise with the Treasurer about the disbursement of funds.
• Communicate with awardees about the progress of their research and the provision of reports.
• Work with Executive members to promote the activities of those undertaking BARS-funded research.
• Report to the Executive on BARS’ funding schemes after each set of decisions have been made and regularly review the effectiveness of each scheme and its guidelines.

International Officer

The International Officer represents BARS’ international membership on the Executive, ensuring that the full range of BARS’ activities is informed by an international perspective. They provide active input into BARS conferences, events and initiatives to ensure that international members are represented and supported.

The International Officer should have considerable knowledge and experience of Romantic Studies on an international scale.

Responsibilities and Key Activities

• Provide an international perspective on BARS’ activities at Executive meetings and in the Exec’s internal correspondence.
• Maintain a good knowledge of the international contexts for Romantic Studies, including the activities of national and international organisations invested in the promotion of Romantic Studies.
• Play a role in planning BARS conferences and events, ensuring that these provide opportunities for the international membership.
• Serve as a principal point of contact for international members.
• Maintain links and connections with other Romantic Studies organisations, working with the President and Vice President.
• Support the work of the Executive by serving on subcommittees dealing with prizes, fellowships and new initiatives as appropriate.
• Assess and develop the role of International Officer in order best to support BARS’ activities.