Print Culture and Translation in Central Europe (1500-1700).
Methods, Problems and Approaches
Under and Tuglas Literary Institute of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia | 30 June–3 July 2026
Important Dates
Deadline for applications: January 31, 2026
Successful applicants will be contacted by February 28, 2026
Dates of Summer School: 30 June – 3 July 2026
About this Action
PCPSCE investigates interactions between the early modern media revolution, sparked by the rise of printing, and the emergence of public spheres in Central Europe. The Action aims to build a European and global network of stakeholders from education, research and cultural institutions with a special focus on Young Researchers and Innovators. It works towards an integrative methodology that brings together experts from different national and disciplinary backgrounds. The Action includes work on joint publications such as a compendium on the book history of Central Europe and the development of an annotated catalogue of digital data and tools. The initiative aims to promote a new scholarly and public historical awareness of the diverse, non-national pasts of Central Europe. More information can be found in the Action’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), available on the following web page: www.pcps-ce.eu.
General information
We invite applications to participate in the YRI Summer School 2026, 4-day academic training event dedicated to the vibrant and multifaceted world of early modern print culture and translation in Central Europe. This Summer School will be held in Tallinn, Estonia.
Organized as part of the COST Action CA23137 – PCPSCE and hosted by the Under and Tuglas Literaray Institute of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, the Summer School aims to bring together young researchers (YRIs) and established scholars, offering theoretical training, field visits, and an engaging forum for interdisciplinary dialogue.
The theme of the Summer School “Print Culture and Translation in Central Europe (1500–1700): Methods, Problems and Approaches” is deeply embedded in the research priorities of the COST Action working group organizing the event: WG5: Texts & Ideas. WG5’s interest lies in the emergence and decline of genres, the production and circulation of knowledge, the role of printed books in school and university milieux, and translations in print culture. The school’s emphasis on transitional zones (between manuscript and print, elite and vernacular literacy, private and institutional book ownership, and between various cultures and religions) provides fertile ground for a dialogue between material narratives and intellectual discourses, echoing the broader aims of the working group.
Key Facts
Dates: 30 June – 3 July 2026
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Applicants: ¾ YRIs (under 40)
Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
No virtual participation possible – on-site only.
Programme Overview
The Summer School will span four days, featuring a structured rhythm designed to stimulate learning and discussion. Mornings will be devoted to training sessions led by experts in their respective fields. In the afternoons, participants will have the opportunity to engage in practical exercises, attend lectures delivered by established scholars, present their own projects, or exchange ideas in thematic panels. The main venue will be the building of the Estonian Academy of Sciences on the slope of Toompea (Dome Hill). This former city residence of the noble Ungern von Sternberg family was built between 1865 and 1868 by the Berlin architect Martin Philipp Gropius. The program also includes guided visits to historically and culturally significant sites related to late medieval and early modern (book) history in Tallinn.
The training sessions by experts in book history and the participants’ panels will start on June 30 at 14:30, and continue on Days Two and Three from 9:30 to 18:00. The Summer School will conclude on July 3 at 12:00 with Conclusions & Certificates.
General topics for lectures or training sessions:
- Print culture and manuscript culture
- Translations between Latin and vernacular languages, as well as between different vernaculars (influenced by political and social changes, traditional ties, conflicts, and religion)
- Knowledge transfer via Latin and vernacular languages
- Digital Humanities (DH) methodologies in translation studies, including corpus linguistics and research on early modern translations
- The interplay of manuscript and print cultures and the role of translations
- Vernacular languages and public spheres
- Gender and agency in translation
Trainers:
Veronika Čapská (Charles University)
Laszlo Kontler (Central European University)
Annemieke Romein (University of Twente)
Anastasia Tenchurina (Charles University)
Peeter Tinits (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig /University of Tartu)
Marta Vaculinová (Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences)
A detailed list of lectures and training sessions will be available online by the end of the submission period. Participants can contribute by presenting posters or short talks, after which there will be thematic discussions.
Who Should Apply?
We welcome Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs), including MA students, PhD candidates, and early postdocs, as well as established scholars working in book history, historical communication, textual scholarship, archival studies, and related fields. Applicants affiliated with the COST Action CA23137 are especially encouraged, though a limited number of external participants might also be accepted. All courses will be conducted in English.
For participants who are members of the COST Action CA23137, travel will be reimbursed following COST rules; accommodation (incl. breakfast) and any meals are covered by the daily allowances.
How to Apply
Applicants will be asked to submit:
- A short CV (1 page)
- A letter of motivation, underlining the professional interest in the Summer School’s topics (max. 300 words)
- A brief proposal for a presentation (300–500 words).
Applications should be submitted via email. Please send all required documents as a single PDF attachment with the subject line: “Application PCPSCE YRI Summer School 2026” to:
- Ivan Almes – WG5 Co-leader: ivanalmes@ucu.edu.ua
- Kristi Viiding – kristi.viiding@gmail.com
Selection criteria will prioritize academic relevance, geographic and disciplinary diversity, and a balance of experience levels.
Why Attend?
The YRI Summer School offers a rare opportunity to engage with the lived material and textual culture of early modern books in a region central to the development of European literacies. Participants will gain critical and theoretical insights, practical skills, form new scholarly networks, and enjoy landscapes, libraries, and layered histories in the capital of Estonia.
For more information, visit our website https://pcps-ce.eu/ or contact us at:
- Kaarel Vanamölder (local organizer) – kaarel.vanamolder@tlu.ee
- YRI Team – yriteam.pcpsce@gmail.com
Organizing Committee:
- Martin Holý (Institute of History, Czech Academy of Sciences) – WG5 Leader
- Ivan Almes (Department of History, Ukrainian Catholic University) – WG5 Co-leader
- Veronika Čapská (Faculty of Humanities, Charles University) – YRI Coordinator
- Kristi Viiding (Under and Tuglas Literary Institute, Estonian Academy of Sciences) – WG5 member
- Kaarel Vanamölder (Under and Tuglas Literary Institute, Estonian Academy of Sciences / School of Humanities, Tallinn University) – WG3 and WG4 member
Acknowledgement
COST Action CA23137 PCPSCE is funded by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for re- search and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.
Canvas foto: Facebook page / Underi ja Tuglase Kirjanduskeskus