Closure Conference, Durham, 9-10 April 2025 – full details

We are delighted to share the full programme for our upcoming conference exploring the contested concept of ‘closure’, hosted by Durham University’s Centre for Death and Life Studies on 9 and 10 April 2025.

We warmly invite you to attend, with registration open via this link: https://pay.durham.ac.uk/event-durham/closure-conference-2025

Across two-days, attendees will hear from over 20 speakers, representing a diverse range of professional and disciplinary perspectives drawing from anthropology-sociology, theology, ceramic-pottery art, music, funeral directing, funeral celebrants, and palliative care, as well as more personal reflections on loss and grief. All talks, some longer and some shorter, are in a plenary context and not parallel sessions to provide everyone with a widely shared audience.

At 7pm on Wednesday evening, there will be a special public lecture – doctor and ceramicist discuss the concept of ‘closure’. Dr Kathryn Mannix (well-known palliative care physician) and Dr Julian Stair OBE (one of the UK’s leading ceramicists) will be in conversation with Professor Douglas Davies FBA, followed by a drinks reception with views overlooking the River Wear and Durham Cathedral. Tickets are £10 for this public event (or included within the full conference package).

Full details and booking available here: https://pay.durham.ac.uk/event-durham/closure-conference-2025

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch at georgina.m.robinson@durham.ac.uk