The annual Fairfax House Symposium in Georgian Studies
The Fairfax House Symposium in Georgian Studies is an annual conference that seeks to bring together research and material from museum professionals and non-professionals, independent scholars and students, to explore the long eighteenth century, often, although not exclusively, within an urban context. The symposium is for anyone who shares an interest in or indeed passion for the Georgian period, whether they are putting forward a paper or simply attending the conference.
The intent is to foster a deeper awareness and appreciation of this transformative period of history, expand the growing volume of research into the long eighteenth century, provide an open forum for sharing new scholarship, and encourage emerging researchers and museum professionals in their careers.
The cross-disciplinary approach is integral to the Symposium and its intent to bridge the gap between the museum and academic worlds, and to help translate the work of both into the public domain.
The Symposium attracts world-class keynote speakers as well as papers from a diverse array of presenters from curatorial, conservation, academic and non-academic backgrounds.
The annual Georgian Studies Symposium is usually linked to Fairfax House’s main summer exhibition and offers the opportunity to extend the knowledge and study of its main theme. This gives wide-ranging scope to explore topics as diverse as the museum’s own exhibition subject material. From ‘polite’ shopping and entertainments both high and low through to fashion and Jacobitism, the Symposium aims to uncover the richness, and constantly changing kaleidoscopic nature of Georgian urban life.
Previous symposia:
2013: Symbolic visual cultures of Jacobitism, 1688-1800 (Friday 15 November 13)
2014: Fashion, Function & Ornament: accessorising the long eighteenth century (Friday 19 September 2014)
2015: Retail Realms: Shops, shopping and shoppers in eighteenth-century Britain (Thursday 22 – Friday 23 October 2015)
2016: Polite and impolite pleasures: entertaining the Georgian city (Friday 21 October 2016)