Bicentenary of MI's in 2027
Conference 13 March 2027
Celebrating 200 Years of Mechanics’ Institutes in Australia
In 2027, we are celebrating the bicentenary of the Mechanics’ Institute movement in Australia
Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future is a conference bringing together the mechanics’ institute community from across Australia.
The conference will be held at the Melbourne Athenaeum on the 13th March 2027, followed by a bus tour of selected Melbourne and regional mechanics’ institutes on the 14th March 2027.
The conference will create a space to connect, share ideas, and strengthen networks between those with an interest in the past and future of these remarkable institutions.
Through a program of presentations, lightning talks, and workshops, participants will not only explore history and future directions, but also build relationships, exchange experiences, and celebrate a shared legacy.
Call for Papers
The program will be organised around two thematic streams:
- History - exploring the development and legacy of Mechanics’ Institutes in Australia
- Future- examining their evolving role and opportunities ahead
We invite submissions of abstracts aligned with either stream in the following formats:
- Presentations (20 minutes)
- Lightning talks (8 minutes)
- Workshops (90 minutes)
We welcome both academic and practice-based contributions, and encourage submissions from anyone with an interest in, or knowledge of, Mechanics’ Institutes.
For proposals focusing on the history of individual institutes, we recommend the lightning talk format, as part of a planned session showcasing a range of institutional histories.
The call for papers closes on the 15th August. Registration opens 1st September, program will be announced in November.
