Religious Coexistence
Past event – Religious Coexistence
This International Symposium took place at Newcastle University between 13 and 15 January 2025 and explored community/religious coexistence within sacred spaces.
A key feature of the Symposium was the "Shared Sacred Sites" exhibition; a highly successful travelling exhibition that has been showcased in several countries, including France, Greece, Turkey, and the USA [Exhibits — Shared Sacred Sites]. Organised by Dr Christos Kakalis and Dr George Tsourous, the Symposium featured four keynote lectures and presentations of selected papers.
The exhibition, designed as an interactive, curated space, facilitated workshops among stakeholders and the local community to foster awareness and explore possibilities for future collaborations.
More events of this kind
The event, organised in collaboration with Religions For Peace UK, has been planned as one of a series of events, aiming to provide a platform of dialogue between diverse cultural and religious narratives, thus enriching research and educational experience and promoting a harmonious environment.
The next event in the series took place in January 2026 in Edinburgh University.
Visiting Newcastle
Newcastle is a compact, walkable historic city. The city centre is safe to walk at all times, albeit sometimes rather lively late on Friday and Saturday nights.
Some very basic background information about the city is here:
https://belong.ncl.ac.uk/blog/top-places-to-explore-in-newcastle
These sites provide tourist information:
https://www.visitnortheastengland.com/places/newcastle/
https://newcastlegateshead.com/
The most recent architectural guide is here, organised as a series of walks around the city:
https://yalebooks.co.uk/page/detail/newcastle-and-gateshead/?k=9780300126648
(available online if you have access to a university library that subscribes to the Pevsner architectural guides for the UK).
The best way to get around beyond the city centre is by Metro:
https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro
The metro will also take you to the sandy beaches of the North Sea at Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay.
Submission Options
Peer-reviewed paper
We welcome abstracts for paper submissions, which could be part of a:
A) Paper session – where 20 minute paper presentations are followed by discussion, or;
B) Reading group – where you join others, round-table, to discuss your work and ideas alongside 2-3 other papers (in this format, participants will have had the opportunity to read the paper texts prior to the discussion, and very short, informal, introductory presentations only will be required).
Submission – an abstract for your peer-reviewed paper (up to 350 words)
Thematic symposium
We welcome proposals from a group of contributors for a paper session to include a series of contributions on a specific theme from a range of participants. We strongly encourage groups proposing thematic symposia to consider the diversity of their panel.
Submission –a) Title and outline of the symposium content including the theme and its significance and a list of speakers with paper titles (up to 350 words)
And b) individual abstracts for included peer-reviewed papers (up to 350 words)
101 Workshop
Whether long and thin, short and sharp, confined to the conference venue or out-and-about, a workshop contribution can take whatever interactive format suits your intent. Perhaps a show-and-tell, a polemical piece, a provocation and action, collaborative generative activity. Make a proposal for when (in parallel or in-between?), where and how your event could take place.
Submission – an outline of the proposed content, format, length of time and required space and resources (up to 350 words).
Creative Practice
A creative practice-based design, performance, commentary or exploratory process. Any medium or format can be proposed.
Submission – an outline of the proposed work/event/process including any equipment/materials needed, proposed duration etc. Please include any particular spatial requirements – e.g. studio, walls, furniture, outside space (up to 350 words).
All submissions should be completed using the online form by Monday 22 May 2023.
Please contact conference organisers at: architecture.101@newcastle.ac.uk if you encounter any issues with accessing or completing the submission form.