To think about repair means to consider not just present conditions, but past circumstances of things and systems that we recognize as broken, or perhaps as having never functioned at all. Repair also encompasses future aspirations—the prospect of remediation, refurbishing, restoration. Devices and objects, of course, are often in need of repair, as are bodies, psyches, systems, environments, institutions, ideologies, cultures, histories… the list goes on.
The Humanities Research Center invites you to join our series of conversations around the theme of repair. The goal is to build multi-layered conversations about how various scholars and practitioners in the humanities and the arts mobilize the idea of repair, both through its embracing and contesting.
We will activate the theme of repair along two axes: (1) by organizing a two-year-long program featuring dialogic panels, workshops, and public lecturers; and (2) by sponsoring or co-sponsoring interdisciplinary events and other collaborative programming.
The HRC invites proposals for interdisciplinary events, workshops, artist projects, reading groups, and research labs or collaboratories that engage with the idea of repair, as both promise and pretext.
We invite proposals that explore the global histories, contemporary challenges and opportunities, and/or possible futures that a focus on repair opens up. We also invite proposals that embrace the capaciousness of repair as a spark for collaboration, creation, and critical engagement.
Deadline for proposals: Monday, February 5, 2024
Proposal Guidelines:
- Project title.
- Project type (event, workshop, artist project, reading group, research lab, or other project type as described).
- Description of no more than 1000 words, including the following information:
- Projected event date(s);
- Envisioned audience for the proposed project (e.g., faculty, grads, undergrads, the wider public); and
- staff support needed for the project. Please note that the HRC cannot offer staff support at the moment.
- Budget that indicates:
- whether planning is for in-person or remote event;
- anticipated use of the requested funds; and
- all funds sought or secured from other sources.
- Names and contact information of confirmed or potential participants/collaborators.
- If submitted by a graduate student, the application should also include an endorsement from a faculty member describing the value of the proposed project for the scholarly and professional advancement of the graduate student(s), and indicating their willingness to advise the project (brief statement). This endorsement should be emailed directly to Gabriela Garcia (GABRIELA.GARCIA@RICE.EDU) by the application deadline.
For more information, please contact Gabriela Garcia at gabriela.garcia@rice.edu.
Header Image: Darning Sampler, Dutch, 1797. Used to demonstrate and practice mending skills, darning samplers display a wide array of weaves, patterns, and colors.