2008 Dublin SFF Masterclass moved to London

(From Farah)

"Important SFRA Announcement:

The SFRA Executive Committee has decided that, due to the uncertainties caused by recent currency fluctuations, the only financially prudent course is not to hold our 2008 annual meeting in Dublin, Ireland. We sincerely regret any problems this announcement will cause our members, wherever they reside. It was not a decision the Committee reached lightly, and it is a decision that has caused all of us bitter disappointment. But whether or not we could reach sufficient prepaid registrations by preset cancellation deadlines, which given the rapid decline of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies seemed a major uncertainty, the amount of money SFRA would have to upfront for registration subsidies to attract a minimal attendance seemed almost to guarantee a significant deficit, one that could grow substantially under certain conditions. The SFRA Executive Committee agreed that we should not commit to this level of expenditure at this time.

We would like to thank the Dublin Conference Group for all the hard work they have put in over the past several years on this project. We stress that it is not the fault of any of them that these plans have not worked out, but rather the declining value of the U.S. dollar that is the major culprit here. And we stress that SFRA will continue to do all it can in the future to serve ALL of its membership, wherever they reside.

The SFRA Executive Committee will work to find a site in the United States for SFRA's 2008 Conference that is affordable and will make for a quality academic gathering. We hope to announce this new venue in the next couple of weeks. In addition, SFRA will do what it can to offer graduate students willing to present a paper at that conference, particularly non-North American students who were looking forward to the Dublin locale, travel grants to lessen the cost of attending the U.S. venue.

We hope that out of this disappointment will somehow come a shared determination to make SFRA a more vital and more dynamic group of science fiction scholars.

Adam Frisch

SFRA President"

Which is bad news for some and has prompted the following to happen too...

(Again from Farah)

"Dear All,

SFF Masterclass: Change of Venue

Due to the cancellation of the Science Fiction Research Association’s conference in Dublin we have decided to relocate the Science Fiction Foundation Masterclass to the UK. As the University of Liverpool archive will still be closed for refurbishment in the summer of 2008 we have decided to relocate the Masterclass to London, specifically to Seven Sisters where the James/Mendlesohn collection of critical works will be available, and will be supplemented by a visit to the famous Clute Cellar.

Masterclass Fees: £170
Dates: The dates are not yet finalised, but will be on the 20-22nd June.
Times: 9-7pm each day.

Class Leaders: Wendy Pearson, Geoff Ryman, Gary K. Wolfe.

The aim of the Masterclass is to provide those who have a serious interest in sf criticism with the opportunity to exchange ideas with leading figures in the field, and also to use the SFF Collection.

The Masterclass will take place in Seven Sisters, London. Each full day of the Masterclass will consist of morning and evening classes, with afternoons free to prepare..

Applicants must provide a short CV of either: academic credentials, essay/book publications, reviews and writing sample (this may be from a blog); all of these will be valued equally as we are looking for a mixture of experiences and approaches.

Applications will be assessed by an Applications Committee consisting of Paul Kincaid, Andy Sawyer and Jenny Wolmark.

Completed applications must be received by 31st January 2008.

Venue: Kitap Evi Café and Bookshop on Tottenham High Street (underground to Seven Sisters and then a bus—numbers will be provided—, three stops north drops you outside the café).

The Kitap Evi Café is a Turkish café which is also a bookshop, highly committed to education and with a book lined, large, airy upstairs room which they use regularly for meetings for evening classes. Downstairs there is internet access, and fabulous food suitable for omnivores, vegans, vegetarians, celiacs and the lactose intolerant. Prices range from £2.50 for soup or mezze, to around £7 for an entrée.

Please note: this venue is not wheelchair accessible for which we apologise profusely. Our regular, Liverpool venue is accessible, but the need to relocate the masterclass and keep the rates down has left us with very few options.

Evening venue: 23 Ranelagh Road for drinks, chat and general book perusal.

Accommodation: we will make details of hotels in the area available, but we are also actively seeking cheaper accommodation."

This will also be bad news for some but not for me as I think the fact that it is actually quite close to hand means that I might well be tempted to apply.  Gary K. Wolfe and Geoff Ryman speak for themselves but Wendy Pearson's "Science Fiction and Queer Theory" was one of the stand-out pieces from James and Mendlesohn's Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction.

It just sounds like too much fun to miss really.  Not that I'd necessarily be accepted.

Comments

[Karen Burnham]

Jonathan, you should absolutely sign up! I have, and whether I'm accepted or not I'll be in London around that time. We'd actually be able to meet in RL, as it were.

Besides, for me knowing someone in the Masterclass other than Gary would be a relief. And not being the only web-centric blog-person attending would be a relief as well.

[Niall]

The dates are confirmed for the 20th to 22nd now, by the way. And I'm probably going to apply, too.

[Jonathan McCalmont]

If you two are applying, then I think I will have to too :-)

[Karen Burnham]

Niall, Jonathan, that's wonderful! The last time I was in London, in 2005, I didn't really know anyone in the community yet. This time around will be much more fun, being able to meet all these people I've only interacted with online.