Wyoming Arts Council

Call for proposals: Wyoming State Historical Society

Featured News | June 11, 2014

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Call for proposals from the Wyoming State Historical Society:

The Wyoming State Historical Society is sponsoring a conference in conjunction with the 125^th anniversary of Wyoming’s statehood.  Planning has already begun for the conference to be held June 11-14, 2015 (next year) in Laramie, Wyoming. The conference (and trek) will explore the history, prehistory, and culture of Wyoming and perhaps look to its future.  The Society is inviting many other sponsors from across the state to participate, including the UW American Heritage Center, the State Parks and Cultural Resources Department, the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, and the UW Libraries.

The Conference Committee invites proposals that consider the relationship between Wyoming, the West, the nation, and the world.  What gaps exist when researching and writing about Wyoming’s rich history, and its relationship with entities beyond its borders?  Fresh perspectives await when exploring such topics as the state’s energy history, and dependence; its diversity, or lack thereof; its cowboy image juxtaposed to a reality of mining and tourism vocations.   In the creative sphere, such as music, poetry, fiction, art, and food, are there certain characteristics that define Wyoming?

The Conference Committee encourages submissions incorporating an interdisciplinary, scholarly approach (i.e. literary studies, economics, cultural studies, history, archaeology, folklore, art history, etc.) as well as an artistic approach (music, poetry, traditional stories, etc.) that will provide the audience a new perspective of Wyoming’s past and present and its place in the West and beyond.  Professional, avocational, graduate, and undergraduate historians, as well as artists, musicians, documentarians, and the general public, are invited to submit proposals and to enjoy the papers, panel discussions, presentations (including multimedia),  and art show offered at this conference.  Online registration will be available in early 2015.

Proposals can be for complete sessions or for individual endeavors.  When submitting an entire session or panel, include a brief abstract (250 words) that outlines the purpose of the session. Your designated contact person should submit the proposal.  Each proposal, whether individual or part of a session, should include a one paragraph abstract and a one page resume with address, phone, and email for each participant.  Indicate equipment and set-up needs, if any.  The committee assumes that all listed individuals have agreed to participate.  Electronic submissions are required and should be sent, with supporting materials, as a single document (PDF) to linda@wyshs.org or to Tamsen Hert at homsher@wyshs.org.  THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 31, 2014.

For more information or disability accommodations, contact Linda Fabian, WSHS Executive Secretary, at 307-322-3014 or linda@wyshs.org.  You can also contact Tamsen Hert at homsher@wyshs.org.

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