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A professor at the University of Sussex has been appointed as Chair of the Society for Renaissance Studies.

Professor Andrew Hadfield, Professor of English at the Centre for Early Modern and Medieval Studies, has taken the role after three years as vice chair and five years before that as editor of the society’s journal, Renaissance Studies.

The society, founded in 1967 to provide a national and international forum to all those interested in the Renaissance period, covers everything from English literature and art history of the period, to architecture, science, religion and more.

The society is open to anyone with an interest in the Renaissance, be they academics, postgraduate or undergraduate scholars, school teachers and students, or members of the general public.

Professor Hadfield says: “It is a great honour to be at the head of such a distinguished society for the next three years.

“My hope is to build on the previous 50 years in which the society has established itself as an interdisciplinary organisation eager to foster and promote the study of Renaissance and early modern culture in and beyond the academy.”

The society is based in the UK and Ireland but it has a long-standing reputation for establishing links throughout the world. It has a number of important partners, notably the Renaissance Society of America and the British School in Rome, with whom it hosts a series of lectures.

A registered charity, the society funds a host of scholarships and bursaries, many for postgraduates and early-career researchers; funds book and essay prizes; fosters links with schools, universities and art galleries; and has just started a book series.

It will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year and Professor Hadfield will be instrumental in planning a number of public events to mark the occasion.

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