In the current conversation around the Decade of Centenaries, the emphasis has been on the historical events themselves and their larger political impact and position. This conference seeks to move beyond this narrative, focusing on the participatory, performative, visual, material and social aspects of commemoration.

‘Designing Commemoration: performance, process and participation’ will explore and reflect on the experience of designing and creating commemorative events, works of art or places, as well as the experience of participation in commemoration in visual and material culture. Moving beyond the chronological limits of the Decade of Centenaries, papers exploring a wide range of commemorative events or experiences, contemporary and historical, national and international, are invited.

Papers will cover a range of disciplinary perspectives, including historians, activists, art historians, geographers, architects, designers, artists, musicians, those involved in commissioning commemoration, dancers, festive artists, community arts practitioners and street theatre practitioners.

This conference will take place on 8^th and 9^th October 2015 at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick (8th October) and the Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin (9th October). Keynote speakers include Professor Ronald Grimes, Noeline Kavanagh and Dr. Sighle Bhreathnach Lynch. Full programme details can be found here: https://designingcommemoration.wordpress.com/programme/