The Inaugural MEND*RS Workshop, 29th June – 2nd July 2012, The Merzbarn,
Elterwater, Cumbria (UK)

The Mending Research Symposium (MEND*RS) was formed in July 2011 by Jonnet
Middleton (University of Lancaster), Giuseppe Salvia (Politecnico di
Milano) and Rebecca (Beck) Collins (University College London) as an
interdisciplinary platform for sharing and exploring ideas, activities and
scholarship based on the potential of mending. Our main objective is to
unite in a productive space individuals who practice and valorise mending.
 The Inaugural MEND*RS Workshop will bring together scholars and
practitioners with an interest in mending for three days of informal
exploratory discussions and activities in the unique setting of the
Merzbarn in the Lake District.

Context: The Potential of Mending

It has been suggested that we inhabit a ‘throwaway society’ (Barr 2004;
Cooper 2005), in which material objects are consigned to the dump with
increasing rapidity and apparently little thought as to alternative or
further use. While the environmental implications of a culture of
disposability are now well documented – growing resource scarcity and
energy consumption as well as pressures on waste management – there are
also important socio-cultural implications, such as the growing alienation
of individuals from the material worlds they inhabit, and the
disappearance of lay knowledges as well as whole livelihoods as manual
craft skills die out.

Mending offers a means to address these challenges. Mending allows
personal material possessions to be recovered, offering them a unique
second life. Mended objects bear visible traces of their histories,
embody stories of past and present owners, and are imbued with deep
emotional value. Mending is an activity which fosters personal knowledge,
values, skills and self efficacy – and thus can be a source of profound
satisfaction. Finally, mending provides individuals with the means to
foster deeper and longer lasting relationships with the artefacts of their
everyday lives.

Manifesto

We believe in the potential for mending to offer a means of addressing
contemporary ambivalence towards social and environmental challenges.
Through MEND*RS, we aim to bring together those who share our enthusiasm
for what mending has to offer to explore how we might bring about a new
age of mending. Our aspirations are set out in the MEND*RS Manifesto:

MAKE MENDING VISIBLE
MAKE MENDING VALUABLE
MAKE MENDING SOCIABLE
MAKE MENDING VITAL
MAKE MENDERS VISIBLE
MAKE MENDERS VALUABLE
MAKE THINGS MENDABLE
MAKE MORE MENDERS


Call For Participation

The Inaugural MEND*RS Workshop will be a combination of discussion and
activities. In order to engage with both scholars and practitioners of
mending, we are issuing a call for participation. We invite applications
from anyone keen to participate in discussion, hands-on activities and the
promotion of the MEND*RS network.

Submissions may take the form of a traditional academic paper, an
interactive presentation, a position paper, a short film, a poster, or
other innovative forms of presentation such as art or audio installation.
Oral/film presentations will be allotted a maximum of 20 minutes.

Submissions may come from any academic discipline or professional
background – our only stipulation is that the content should directly
engage with the aims of MEND*RS and the aspirations of the MEND*RS
manifesto. Some suggested topics/themes can be found on the MEND*RS
website under ‘Call for Participation’.

Places are limited so participants will be selected on the basis of the
strength and relevance of their abstract, which should not exceed 300
words. To apply, please send an abstract to [log in to unmask] by
Friday 27th April. In addition to an abstract, we would be grateful if
applicants would submit a short (maximum 100 words) biography and a short
statement outlining why you believe mending matters (maximum 100 words).

Location and Cost

The workshop will take place at the Merzbarn (www.merzbarn.net) in the
Lake District (Elterwater). This location has been chosen for its
compatibility with the aims of MEND*RS and should provide a particularly
stimulating environment for discussion. Participants are therefore
encouraged to embrace the mood of the Merzbarn and actively take part in
the semi-structured, participatory nature of the workshop activities,
including the self-managed dinners and evening social events.

Travel and accommodation information will be made available on the MEND*RS
website in due course.

The cost of attendance for all three days is:
Full-time employed £95
Part-time employed/student £45
Volunteers £20

Please note that this includes all meals but does not include accommodation.

The heavily discounted Volunteer rate will be available to a small number
of participants who are willing to help us with the set up and logistics.
Please let us know in your application if you would like to be a
Volunteer.

We also hope to have a very small amount of funding available to offer
modest travel bursaries to students attending. Please let us know in your
application if you would like to be considered for one of these.

For more information about MEND*RS, including a draft programme for the
workshop, confirmed speakers and some suggested pre-reading, please visit
www.mendrs.com. Questions about the event can be directed to
[log in to unmask]