Event: Named/Nameless: Monday 19 January 2026 at The Arc, Winchester.
In January we are holding a specialist study day, supported by the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, bringing together artists, activists, doctoral students and researchers to consider how the legacy of William Morris can be pertinent to contemporary life and enrich debates around work, artistry and activism.
Utilising the figure of the Named/Nameless, or unseen labour, a recurring motif in the writings and workings of Morris, as a focal point of discussion, we will assess the real ramifications of his visions and enliven a truly poignant and radical British artistic legacy.
With talks from leading figures working in relation to legacies of Pre-Raphaelitism and the Morris family, this will be an excellent opportunity to engage with the workings of the latest artistic and research-based practices revolving around the Morris family and their wider circle.
Tickets for the day will be available to the public.
We are inviting papers from doctoral candidates, artists, activists, and researchers in any field that relate to overlooked aspects of William Morris and his circle’s legacy.
The organisers are John Reed (Hampshire Cultural Trust and University of Sussex), Kirsty Rodda (Hampshire Cultural Trust) and Suzanne Fagence Cooper (University of York).
We are interested in papers that:
- Reimagine the ethos of William Morris and circle in the present day
- Re-examine historiographies related to William Morris or Pre-Raphaelitism in original ways
- Explore alternative domestic or craft practices
Please send 200-word abstracts for papers of 20 minutes’ length to John Reed at john.reed@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk by Sunday 21 December 2025
#PMCSUPPORTS
