The Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences invites proposals for an international and interdisciplinary conference “Between Bavaria and Poland in the Early and High Middle Ages: Exchanges of Ideas, Objects, and People”, to be held in Warsaw on 27–28 May 2026. The conference forms part of the research projects of Arthur Westwell (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship) and Paweł Figurski (Alexander von Humboldt Return Fellowship).
Despite the deep historical entanglement between Bavaria and Poland, the traditional research has approached early contacts primarily through the perspective of Franconia, and especially Bamberg, while connections with the rest of Bavaria have been examined chiefly in the context of the Late Middle Ages. However, a wealth of overlooked sources reveals that the transfer of ideas, objects, and people between Bavaria and Poland was broader, already present and vibrant in earlier centuries. It also entailed a clearly mutual exchange that moved in both directions. Recent manuscript discoveries, including Bavarian sacramentaries, missals, and benedictionals preserved in Polish archives offer, for example, critical overlooked evidence. This conference aims to explore and assess such varied and multifaceted interactions, and to situate them within a broader Central European and transregional context.
The organisers welcome proposals from scholars in medieval history, manuscript studies, liturgy, art history, archaeology, philology, and related disciplines. Topics may include but are not limited to:
• Circulation of liturgical manuscripts and sacred texts
• Artistic and architectural influences across regions
• Trade networks, material culture, and coin finds
• Religious orders, missionary activity, and ecclesiastical organization
• Hagiography, pilgrimage, and the cult of saints
• Dynastic alliances and political diplomacy
• Cross-cultural transmission of legal, intellectual, or theological ideas
• Mobility of clergy, scholars, scribes, and artisans

Confirmed participants include:
Harald Buchinger (University of Regensburg)
Jakub Kubieniec (Jagiellonian University)
Monika Jakubek-Raczkowska (Nicolaus Copernicus University)
Paweł Figurski (Polish Academy of Sciences)
Arthur Westwell (University of Regensburg)

Papers will be 30 minutes long, followed by discussion. The working language of the conference is English. Selected contributions will be published in a peer-reviewed volume.

Submission Guidelines
Please send a 300-word abstract and a short bio (max. 150 words) with CV to: 📧 Arthur.Westwell@theologie.uni-regensburg.de by 31 October 2025. Decisions will be communicated by 30 November 2025.
Travel to and from Warsaw and accommodation for participants will be covered.

Organizing Institution:
Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Sciences
ul. Długa 26/28
00-950 Warszawa
Poland