CfP: Citizen Practices in Producing and Preserving the Past

Call for papers for an international conference hosted by the C²DH on 11 and 12 May 2026.

Who produces history, and under what conditions? While historical knowledge has long been shaped within academic and institutional frameworks, the involvement of non-professional actors in historical research and heritage preservation has a much longer and richer history than what is often assumed. From historical societies and heritage clubs to community archives and activist associations, citizen historians, often defined as amateurs in a pejorative perspective, have contributed significantly to the production, preservation, and interpretation of the past.

This conference seeks to examine both the historical trajectories and contemporary practices of citizen involvement in history and heritage. Rather than focusing solely on narratives or memory discourses, the organisers aim to explore the processes, methodologies, and collaborations through which citizens engage in historical work and heritage preservation: how they collect, classify, preserve, and interpret the past, and how these practices shape the broader historiographical field.

By bringing together scholars, practitioners, and representatives of historical associations, the organisers intend to foster dialogue on the evolving role of citizen participation in historical knowledge production, from the nineteenth century to the digital age.

We invite proposals that engage with (but are not limited to) the following topics:

• Citizen participation and shared authorship in historical production
• Historical societies, clubs, and associations as sites of knowledge-making
• Amateur historians: practices, expertise, and recognition
• Contested cultural heritage: preservation practices and community activism
• Education, heritage, and the formation of historical consciousness for citizenship
• Advocacy, voluntary associations, and grassroots historical initiatives

The conference is hosted by the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH, University of Luxembourg) and the research project Citizen Participation in History and Heritage Production (CIPHH), funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR). It is organized in collaboration with the Laboratoire d’histoire et de patrimoine de Montréal (LHPM, Université du Québec à Montréal) and the research project Agents mémoriels, un engagement citoyen d’hier à aujourd’hui (Montréal, Canada).

Practical information

Dates: 11-12 May 2026

Location: Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH), University of Luxembourg, Belval Campus

Languages: The conference will be held in English, except for one panel in French, for which proposals may be submitted in French. Participants do not need to be bilingual.

Registration fees: None. Lunch and coffee breaks will be provided for on-site participants.

Presentation policy: Only on-site participants may present their work.

Financial information: Unfortunately, the conference will not be able to provide financial support or travel funding. Participants are expected to cover their own expenses.Online participation: The event will also be accessible online for those who wish to attend remotely. The full program and registration link will be made available in January 2026.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit your abstract (max. 250 words) and short biography (max. 150 words) by email to Natália Gonçalves (natalia.martins@uni.lu) by 20 December 2025, with notification of acceptance to follow on 15 January 2026.