We have received many concerns regarding the safety of our multiply-marginalized members, the ethical issues of spending organizational and personal funds in Florida, and many other concerns. We fully acknowledge and share your dismay over these developments, as they are antithetical to our organization's values of inclusivity, equality, and justice.
While the decision to move the conference is a significant one, we also understand that it may have practical implications and involve a complex process. Therefore, we assure you that we are actively exploring alternative options and potential venues. We are engaging with our partners and considering various locations that align with our values and prioritize the well-being of our members.
Moreover, we recognize that this situation extends beyond a single event or location. We are committed to using our platform and influence to raise awareness, challenge discriminatory practices, and support organizations and activists who are fighting against systemic inequalities. We will actively seek opportunities to collaborate with local advocates, amplify their voices, and contribute to the ongoing efforts to create a more just and inclusive society.
We want to emphasize that your feedback and perspectives are invaluable to us. We encourage you to continue sharing your concerns, suggestions, and insights with us by clicking the ICFA45 Survey below. Together, we can navigate these challenging times and work towards a more equitable future.
Share your thoughts:
The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts (IAFA), founded in 1982, is a nonprofit association of scholars, writers, and publishers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in literature, film, and the other arts. Its purpose is to promote and recognize achievement in the study of the fantastic.
Its principle activities are (1) the organization of the International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts (ICFA), which was first held in 1980, (2) the organization of the Virtual International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts (VICFA) held first in 2021, (3) the publication of the Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts (JFA), a peer-reviewed journal for scholarship within the field of the fantastic which has been published regularly since 1990, and (4) the production of a news blog and other social media that publish information of interest to the membership.
Membership in the IAFA is open, but almost all members are scholars, teachers, and graduate students in the field of Science fiction studies, Fantasy literature, Horror literature, or are authors.
The 45th International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts:
March 13-16, 2024
Marriott Orlando Airport Lakeside
Theme: Whimsy
Stay tuned for the Guest of Honor and Guest Scholar reveal!!!
Please visit our sister organization, Gesellschaft für Fantastikforschung.
The Gesellschaft für Fantastikforschung (GFF) [Association for Research in the Fantastic] is the first academic association in the German-speaking world committed to furthering research on the fantastic in art, literature and culture. It strives to broaden scholarly and cultural insight in this area. To that end, the association publishes its membership journal "Zeitschrift für Fantastikforschung" twice a year as well as its own book series "Beiträge zur Fantastikforschung". In addition, an annual conference provides the opportunity for a membership assembly, taking place in different locations each year.