Call for Papers – After Genocide and Mass Violence: What Comes Next? (Workshop)

Title of Workshop: After Genocide and Mass Violence: What Comes Next?

When: Thursday 23^rd and Friday 24^th October 2025

Where: In person at Holocaust Centre North, University of Huddersfield

2025 marks the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of the camps – the ‘end’ of the Holocaust – and the 30^th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. With these two anniversaries, we want to reflect upon what happens to communities after genocide and mass violence: How do families and communities rebuild? How do communities re-establish their identities? How do we seek and find justice? How do we teach about what has happened? How do we try and prevent it happening again? How do we respond in art, media and literature?

The resurgence of authoritarianism, xenophobia, and disinformation in many regions raises pressing questions about how societies remember—and too often forget—the legacies of genocide. By drawing on historical and contemporary experiences, this workshop aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue that not only deepens understanding but actively contributes to the work of prevention, accountability, and healing.

This workshop is being hosted by Holocaust Centre North and the Centre of Archaeology at the University of Huddersfield. Holocaust Centre North combines an archive and exhibition space with a teaching and community outreach programme as well as artist residencies. We are committed to commemorating the Holocaust, tackling all forms of discrimination, and supporting our local community of Holocaust survivors and their families. The new Centre of Archaeology works extensively on locating and interpreting the material culture of the Holocaust and other twentieth-century genocides and collaborates with survivor groups and creative practitioners in documentary theatre.

We aim to bring together a range of researchers and practitioners to share and respond to these questions. We welcome all disciplines and backgrounds. Whilst our work pertains largely to the Holocaust, we welcome papers exploring all communities and peoples affected by genocide and mass violence, both throughout history and globally. Some suggested topics may include but are not limited to:

• Trauma informed practices
• Social justice, legal changes and trials
• Memorialisation and remembrance
• Preserving sites and dark tourism
• Archaeological investigations
• Education and research
• Family history and inherited trauma
• Working with archives
• Artistic and literary responses
• Languages and multiculturalism

We hope to attract researchers from various disciplines who may be postgraduates, postdoctoral or research fellows, junior scholars, or practitioners from other fields. You do not need to be affiliated to a university to apply. Proposals may be based on ongoing research, essays, dissertations or placements, and artistic practice.

Applicants are invited to submit a 250-word proposal including a title and brief biography to Hannah Randall (Head of Learning) at h.randall@hud.ac.uk by 1^st September 2025 at 5pm.

We will also encourage postgrads studying these topics to join our poster competition. Please submit an A3 sized poster which will be on display during the workshop. Places for posters are limited. To apply to submit a poster please send a 100-word description of your research topic and brief biography to Hannah Randall (Head of Learning) at h.randall@hud.ac.uk by 1^st September 2025 at 5pm.

We have a number of small travel bursaries for postgraduate and early career researchers to attend. If you would like to apply for this please include an estimated cost within your proposal.

Key Dates:

1^st September – submission of papers

1^st September – submission of poster proposals

15^th September – acceptance

13^th October  – date for papers to be submitted

23^rd and 24^th October – conference

Supported by History at The University of Huddersfield and The Centre of Archaeology at The University of Huddersfield