Open calls and tenders of the German Shakespeare Society
Here you can find an overview of the calls for papers and tenders of the German Shakespeare Society. The Shakespeare Yearbook and the Shakespeare Seminar Online offer annual publication opportunities, with the Shakespeare Seminar Online being also explicitly aimed at younger scholars. The Martin Lehnert Prize is awarded annually to an outstanding thesis, dissertation or documented student project. The Shakespeare Scholarship is aimed at doctoral students with an excellent university degree whose research project is a demanding project for the realisation of which the collections of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar are essential. The school prize annually honours a Shakespeare project, an initiative, or a teaching format, while the school project funding financially supports school projects that have yet to be realised.
Shakespeare Yearbook
The Shakespeare Yearbook is the yearbook of the German Shakespeare Society; it has been published since 1865, since 2019 by the Kröner Verlag (Stuttgart). It is a peer-reviewed journal and contains scholarly articles in German and English (usually on a key topic), a “theatre review” with reviews of German-language Shakespeare productions from the past season, a “book review” with reviews of important publications of German-language and international Shakespeare research, and reports on the work of the German Shakespeare Society.
Shakespeare-Seminar (short talk) und Shakespeare-Seminar Online (publication)
The Shakespeare Seminar takes place as part of the Shakespeare Days in spring. It is intended to offer established and younger Shakespeare scholars the opportunity for intensive academic exchange. The format of the seminar includes short presentations in German or English, which – according to the specifications for the speakers – should focus on “theses instead of exegesis”. The topic of the seminar refers to the respective topic of the Shakespeare Days itself – but is narrowed down in order to be able to provide a concrete basis for discussion.
In the MLA-listed journal Shakespeare Seminar Online (SSO), the contributions to the discussion are presented, often in a somewhat longer form. It regularly presents to the public the approaches that the seminar participants deal with at the conferences. In addition, it also offers younger scientists an opportunity to publish.
Martin-Lehnert-Prize
The prize is awarded annually for an outstanding thesis (Magister, Master’s, State Examination), a dissertation or a documented student project (theatre production, exhibition, etc.). The prize money is €2,000 for a dissertation, €500 for a thesis and €500 for a student project. The prize is aimed in particular at the faculties of English Studies, German Studies and Theatre Studies.
Nominations are open to German or English-language papers written or submitted to universities in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Theses that have been written at universities in non-German-speaking countries by young scientists from Germany, Austria or Switzerland can usually also be nominated. The academic supervisors of the respective thesis are entitled to nominate candidates.
Shakespeare Scholarship
The scholarship is aimed at doctoral students with an excellent university degree who can demonstrate a conceptual connection between the research project to be carried out in Weimar and their dissertation. The focus of the newly established graduate scholarship holders is on the early modern period in the broader sense, including the Baroque, as well as the processes of its reception and transformation up to the present day. Interdisciplinary and comparative projects on theatre, Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as on the transmission and reception of the early modern period in Germany and especially in Weimar Classicism, are particularly welcome. Funding is provided for ambitious projects for the realisation of which the Klassik Stiftung’s collection holdings are essential.
Shakespeare Academy
The Shakespeare Academy is an English-language student workshop that has been held since 2019 to accompany the annual meeting of the German Shakespeare Society (DSG). Since then, the aim has been to introduce students of all levels to Shakespeare and the media-rich afterlife of his dramas or to deepen an existing interest. The heart of the workshop is formed every year by two intensive study days on site in Weimar or Bochum, followed by a joint visit to the Shakespeare Days. In this way, the Shakespeare Academy wants to create low-threshold access to the context of an academic conference in addition to its own scientific program. Prepared with knowledge on the conference topic acquired in the workshop and surrounded by their peer group, students should be given a feeling of security and belonging at the main conference.
School prize and project funding
The German Shakespeare Society promotes and honours outstanding projects, initiatives and teaching formats that convey Shakespeare’s work, person and time in an innovative way. The call for proposals is intended to motivate learners and teachers to explore creative and modern ways to engage with Shakespeare’s texts, themes and characters. Teams of students, teachers with their classes, student councils or project groups (e.g. literature or theatre clubs, interdisciplinary teams) from all types of schools and grades can apply.
Option 1: Shakespeare project funding
You have an idea for a Shakespeare project and need support in implementing it. Then apply with a convincing project outline and receive a bonus of €500 if you receive funding. The funding can be used, for example, for activities, material costs, props or other project-related expenses.
Option 2: The Shakespeare School Prize
You have carried out a Shakespeare project and are convinced that it has been particularly successful. Document your project and submit it for the Shakespeare School Prize. The winning project will receive €500 for the class or course fund.