Classics in the Public Sphere: Education, Outreach and Engagement - Call for Papers

: Classics in the Public Sphere: Education, Outreach and Engagement

Venue: University of Lisbon, Portugal

Dates: 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd April 2027

This international conference is organised by Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson (Durham University, UK) and Dr André Simões (University of Lisbon, Portugal) as part of their collaboration funded by The Centre for Classical Studies (CEC), in the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Lisbon. It occurs during Arlene’s term as the Gulbenkian Foundation’s Visiting Professor in the Humanities in 2026-2027.

Call for papers:

This international conference invites scholars, educators, museum professionals, and community practitioners to explore how the ancient world is taught, interpreted, and communicated across contemporary public settings. From classrooms and youth programmes to community heritage projects and museum galleries, how does the study of antiquity continue to shape cultural identities, civic imagination and educational practice?

We welcome papers that examine how classical material—texts, objects, languages, and ideas—is shared with diverse audiences, and how these encounters generate new forms of knowledge, belonging and creativity. Contributions may address (but are not limited to):

• Classics in primary and secondary education
• Community‑led engagements with ancient history and archaeology
• Museum interpretation, display, and public programming
• Inclusive and decolonising approaches to the study of the ancient world
• Digital and immersive pedagogies
• Ancient languages in non‑formal educational settings
• Collaborative models linking schools, universities, and cultural institutions
• The politics and ethics of ‘Public Classics’
• Classics and public policy

We particularly encourage proposals from early career colleagues, projects that foreground cross‑sector collaboration, international perspectives, and innovative methodologies. The conference aims to foster dialogue between researchers, classroom practitioners and policy professionals, and to build a global network committed to expanding and diversifying access to the study of the ancient world.

Individual papers will last 30 minutes (20 minutes with 10 minutes available for Q&A).

Please send paper titles, abstracts (up to 150 words), 5 keywords with author bio and affiliation (if any) to arlene.v.holmes-henderson@durham.ac.uk by Monday 28^th September.

Participation in the conference will be confirmed by early November, allowing colleagues to make travel arrangements in good time. Hybrid participation will also be possible.

Registration fees:

80€ for speakers with a PhD/educators/museum or charity professionals.

40€ for speakers who are currently UG or PG students.

20€ for members of the public (certificate of attendance can be provided).