{"id":6068,"date":"2025-07-20T22:54:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T22:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/?p=6068"},"modified":"2025-07-20T22:54:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T22:54:42","slug":"bars-presidents-report-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bars.ac.uk\/blog\/?p=6068","title":{"rendered":"BARS President’s Report 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This has been a very difficult year for BARS members working in universities, with every day seeming to bring news of new cuts and threats of redundancies.  BARS is keen to support members under pressure.  We have written by request to institutions considering cuts to the arts and humanities forcefully underlining the contributions made by Romantic Studies scholars; we would be happy to do this for further institutions if such interventions would be helpful.  In these straightened times, we hope we can also keep research conversations going through our in-person and online events and through our provision for Conference and Seminar support<\/a>.  We would like to remind early career scholars in particular that the Stephen Copley Research Awards<\/a> are available to support those with good ideas and limited resources; we also offer a number of other forms of funding detailed on our website, with a particular focus on postgraduate and early career opportunities.  Schemes are advertised through the mailbase, blog and social media whenever a deadline is coming up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the circumstances, the Exec has followed up on our \u2018Romantic Making and Unmaking\u2019 conference in Glasgow by forging ahead with several initiatives \u2013 scheduling digital events and symposia, co-ordinating our next conferences, running rounds of our funding schemes, supporting several successful events (including the recent Anna Barbauld and Global Austen conferences) and working to make sure that BARS\u2019 finances and future plans remain on a secure footing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Conferences and Symposia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were glad to be able to announce earlier this year that the next BARS International Conference, \u2018Romantic Retrospection\u2019, will be held at the University of Birmingham on the 29th, 30th and 31st July 2026.  Many thanks to the Birmingham conference team (Jessica Fay, Andrew Hodgson, Matthew Ward and latterly Laura Blunsden) for all their hard work.  At the General Meeting, the organisers also announced that we have three exciting keynotes confirmed: Ruth Abbott, Richard Cronin and Mary Favret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BARS\u2019 2025 Early Career and Postgraduate Conference, \u2018Romantic (Un)Consciousness<\/a>\u2019, will take place at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge on 4th and 5th September and online on 12th September.  Kate Nankervis, Cleo O\u2019Callaghan Yeoman and Zooey Ziller have put together a brilliant programme<\/a>.  Registration remains open until midnight on 1st August, and full details can be found on the conference site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, BARS will also host two Digital Symposia: \u2018Global Romanticism<\/a>\u2019 (Wednesday July 23rd) and \u2018Expanding Queer Romanticisms<\/a>\u2019 (Friday July 25th).  These events are free to attend for BARS members; Zoom links will be circulated to the membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the next few months, BARS will circulate a call for expressions of interest in hosting the 2028 International Conference, with the aim of returning to pre-pandemic practices and announcing the 2028 venue at the Birmingham conference.\u00a0 If you have questions about the possibility of hosting the 2028 BARS conference, we are very happy to discuss \u2013 please just drop me an email (matthew.sangster@glasgow.ac.uk<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members\u2019 Survey and Responses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, we conducted an extensive survey to find out which aspects of BARS\u2019 work are most important to our membership.\u00a0 The results showed strong support for the full range of BARS\u2019 activities.\u00a0 International Conferences, Early Career and Postgraduate Conferences, bursaries for postgraduate and early career researchers, financial support for conferences and seminars, the Open Fellowship, the President\u2019s Fellowship, fellowship opportunities with partner institutions (such as the Wordsworth Trust and Chawton House), the Digital Events programme, the First Book Prize, international collaborations and the mailbase were all most commonly rated in the highest importance category, with substantial majorities in the top two categories.\u00a0 There was considerable enthusiasm for the website, blog and BARS\u2019 social media accounts, but the results make it apparent that not all members regularly engage with these channels. \u00a0While we will continue to provide information through these means, the survey clarified that the mailbase should remain BARS\u2019 primary means of circulating information.\u00a0 A couple of written responses recommended that BARS withdraw from X\/Twitter \u2013 we have followed this advice and will keep our regular social media presence focused on the Facebook group and our Bluesky account<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also asked about digital provision at future BARS conferences.  28.6% of respondents favoured a fully hybrid conference; 43.7% favoured a conference with in-person and digital days, with digital access to a selection of recordings from in-person sessions; 22.5% were unconcerned about digital provision; and 7% expressed no preference.  In line with these views, we will ask future BARS conference organisers to include digital elements, but will allow their precise form to be determined by the capacity of the team and institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written requests from members suggested an international board member (Francesca Saggini has been serving in that role); formalising the number of sessions people can apply to be part of at a single conference (the Birmingham team is looking into this); and further work with undergraduates and schools (something our new Education and Schools Liaison, Charlotte May, is working on).  There were also a series of suggestions about additional activities BARS might undertake \u2013 we will consider these, although we will also take to heart the cautions raised by several respondents about the possibility of the Executive taking on too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fees<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The members\u2019 survey also consulted on a necessary increase to BARS\u2019 membership fees.\u00a0 A fee increase at this time is not something we undertook lightly, but BARS has not changed its fees since 2011 and has considerably increased the range of activities it funds in recent years (through initiatives including the President\u2019s Fellowship, the Open Fellowship, the resumption of support for scholars at Chawton House, and increased budgets for conference and seminar support and for the Copley scheme). Without a fee increase at this point, the Association risks running out of funds in the next couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the survey, our members indicated that they would like BARS’ current activities to continue and were happy to pay increased fees to support this (8.5% of respondents supported a low increase, with the budget to be balanced using cuts; 67.6% a fee increase that maintains BARS\u2019 current level of activity; and 23.9% a large fee increase to boost the funds available through BARS\u2019 various schemes).\u00a0 In line with this response, we have increased our fees to a level that should allow us to keep doing broadly what we do now for the next four years (after which, we will review the fees again).\u00a0 We have increased the general annual fee to \u00a337 while maintaining a considerably lower fee of \u00a317 for postgraduates, retired members, those in part-time or impermanent positions and unwaged members.\u00a0 The survey also indicated that some members would be happy to pay more to help support BARS\u2019 activities, so we have now instituted a Sustaining Membership rate (\u00a357) \u2013 this will always be entirely voluntary, but allows those with the means to make a higher regular payment to BARS.\u00a0 Full information can be seen on BARS\u2019 How to Join<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constitution and Elections<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the General Meeting on 30th<\/sup> June, the members present approved revisions to the BARS Constitution to bring it in line with current practices and to make the Executive more open and accountable to the membership.  The revised Constitution can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will shortly be opening nominations for the Executive roles up for election in this cycle; we will also be seeking expressions of interest from people who\u2019d like to chair or serve on the jury for the BARS First Book Prize.  Further details will be circulated in the next few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many thanks to all members for your support for BARS \u2013 as always, the Exec welcomes feedback, which can be sent to me as President (matthew.sangster@glasgow.ac.uk<\/a>), to Andy McInnes as Secretary (bars.secretary@gmail.com<\/a>) or to the appropriate officer (listed here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With best wishes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew Sangster (on behalf of the BARS Executive)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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