Reading Retreat
June 3-14, 2018
Monte Castello di Vibio
Umbria, Italy
Announcing ten days of reading and discussion on “Nature in the Anthropocene” in Umbria, Italy. This retreat will take place in the medieval Italian hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio using facilities made available by the International Center for the Arts. A small group of scholars will gather to spend mornings reading and discussing important contemporary papers with optional evening sessions workshopping papers-in-progress by the group’s members. Afternoons are free.
The idea is to provide a relaxing and unique environment for some focused work on important emerging areas in environmental thought. Monte Castello provides a serene and picturesque setting for our work. Its proximity to Todi, Florence, and Perugia provides opportunities for side-trips during (or after) the workshop. The small group is designed to provide a supportive and high quality intellectual environment for exploring new areas of environmental philosophy and for peer evaluation of each other’s work and ideas. Reading materials will be decided upon by participants prior to arrival in Italy.
There will be three field trips during our stay. One will involve a morning spent with truffle hunting dogs in the Monte Castello area. A second will be to Assisi and the forests that cloak Monte Subasio. The third will be to the Monti Sibillini National Park to discuss some Italian efforts at re-wilding. The weekend in the middle of the retreat will be open to use as you wish.
The fee of 1650 EUR will include food, wine, and lodging in Monte Castello for 11 nights (Sunday to Wednesday) as well as transportation for the field trips. Meals out during the field trips as well as travel expenses to and from the Center for the Arts in Monte Castello di Vibio are the responsibility of participants. The lodging is in the 14th century ex-convent in which the Center for the Arts is located. The rooms are simple with shared bathrooms. (Rooms with private bathrooms at the local hotel are available for an additional fee).
(The workshop is contingent upon interest and sufficient (10) applicants. Feel free to share with other potentially interested parties).
Please email christopher.preston@umontana.edu by October 22nd to indicate initial interest.