Call for papers in English

Migration, firstly, may be understood as a socio-cultural and geopolitical concept relating to avant-garde and neo-avant-garde migrant actors and movements during the 20th century as well as the contemporary cultural and political landscape in Europe and the world. What mechanisms of demographic migration influence/d agents of the avant-garde and their collectives? What roles have migrating, exiled or refugee artists and intellectuals and their production played in the (cultural) politics of diverse national and ethnical communities? In what ways do the dynamics of past and contemporary avant-garde techniques connect with aspects of today’s global societal and cultural migration?

Secondly, the concept of migration may function metaphorically in addressing ideational types of movements and border crossings. The latter include changes in meaning of the ‘travelling’ concept ‘avant-garde’ and other aesthetic-philosophical notions as they move across cultures and through history; the transgression of boundaries between genres, media and modes of expression made possible by the critical practices of the avant-garde; the creative transformations with socio-political implications that arise in the interplay between movements, actors and networks.

By addressing this theme, we seek to respond to the contemporary global geo- and cultural-political situation in which urgent questions are raised about the role of both the humanities and the arts in times of rising antidemocratic tendencies. Issues of migration, diaspora, exile and cross-border intercultural encounters have been high on the agenda of humanities research. However, these themes are often addressed within the framework of traditional disciplinary frameworks. The interdisciplinary nature of the biennial EAM conferences may provide a start in bringing forth innovative research combining various humanities disciplines. Besides highlighting important historical and theoretical aspects, we therefore also welcome delegates addressing how research on the avant-garde can shed light on the global challenges and complex problems that characterise our time.

The conference languages are English, French and German.

You may submit a proposal for a panel or for an individual paper. A panel consists of three or four speakers, or, exceptionally, a double panel of six or seven speakers. One of the speakers is the chair who makes the submission and supplies the details and proposals of all of the proposed participants. Panels should not consist only of doctoral students. We will prefer panels where members are drawn from different institutions, preferably across different disciplines, and especially across national boundaries. You may submit an individual proposal without specifying a panel and the organisers will assign your paper to a panel if accepted.

Panel proposals should include the following information.

1. Title of panel and language of panel (English, French, German – one only)
2. Name, address and email contact of Panel Chair
3. A summary of the panel topic (300 words)
4. A summary of each individual contribution (300 words)
5. Name, address and email contact of individual contributors
6. Short biography of individual contributors

Individual proposals should include the following information.

1. Title of paper and language of paper (English, French, German)
2. Name, address and email of contributor
3. A summary of the contribution (300 words)
4. Short biography of the contributor

Please send panel and individual proposals to the conference email address eam10@su.se by 1 February 2026. Please DO NOT submit proposals in more than one category.

Acceptance of proposals will be communicated via email by early March 2026. Conference registration fees will only be payable after this point.

Conference website:

su.se/ike/eam10

EAM website:

eam-europe.be

For all enquiries regarding the conference, please contact us at eam10@su.se

We look forward to welcoming you to Stockholm on 2–4 September 2026!
Andrea Kollnitz and Jessica Sjöholm Skrubbe, conference convenors