Photograph by Hario Priambodho
Academic Writers Retreat, Gränna Sweden
Annette Hill and Joke Hermes
Location: Gränna Campus, Jönköping University
Dates June 23rd to 27th 2025
Writing Retreat Theme: Research Spices
What kinds of savoury and sweet spices do you add to your research practice? This academic writers’ retreat takes the metaphor of spices to explore research craft.
We consider the seeds, roots, bark and fruits in our writing and analysis. And we reflect on layering of empirical and conceptual thinking, from whole to ground spices, toasted and roasted spices, and subtle and strong fragrances.
The retreat starts with a choice of spices and then we try out, write and reflect on the flavours and fragrances we want to create in our research craft. Each day we spend time in workshops, private writing time, go on walks by the lake and mountainside, and we cook together.
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Gränna. Photo: Hario Priambodho
Highlights
Guided writing and feedback from two world leading scholars.
Slow thinking and writing time.
Residential setting of Gränna Campus, overlooking the great lake of Vättern, with easy access to local food and crafts, clear water swimming, nature walks and mountain views;
Social events, including trip to the historical island of Visingsö. The retreat takes place around the midsummer celebrations in Sweden, be sure to take time to participate in this special event.
Retreat Authors
Annette Hill is Professor of Media and Communications at Jönköping University. Her research focuses on media audiences, with interests in media engagement, everyday life, genres, production studies and cultures of viewing. She is the author of 11 books, and over 100 articles and book chapters in journals and edited collections. Her latest books are Media Engagement (with Dahlgren, Routledge 2023) and The Routledge Companion to Media Audiences (with Lunt, Routledge 2024).
Professor Joke Hermes is a Dutch media and cultural studies researcher and Professor of Media, Culture and Citizenship at Inholland University with a long-time affiliation with the University of Amsterdam. She has published widely on popular culture, audience research and feminist analysis of gender and diversity and is one of the three
founding editors of the European Journal of Cultural Studies. Her latest books are Cultural Citizenship and Popular Culture (Routledge 2024) and The Pocketbook of Audience Research (with Linda Kopitz, Routledge 2024). She is one of the section editors of The Routledge Companion to Media Audiences (Hill and Lunt, Routledge 2024).
Important Dates
The retreat dates are 23 to 27 June 2025.
See preliminary programme for day to day activities. (Coming soon)
Deadline for applications: 7 April 2025
Deadline for fee payment: June 1 2025
How to apply
Please submit an application pack consisting of a short CV (2 pages) and cover letter outlining a short description of how your research will benefit from this retreat (1 page).
Email this as a PDF document to Annette Hill (Annette.hill@ju.se) by 7 April 2025. Applicants will receive notification no later than 14 April 2025.
Cost
14,750 SEK all inclusive (accommodation, breakfast and lunch, coffee and fruit breaks)
11,750 SEK (lunch, coffee and fruit breaks included)
How to get to Gränna Campus
Travelling by train: take the SJ train to Gothenburg, Nässjö, or Linköping depending on your route of travel, and then take the local train to Jönköping. When you arrive at Jönköping central station take the local bus 122 or 121 to Gränna, stop by the town square (this takes around 30 mins) – bus tickets can be bought on the bus or at the ticket machines in the train station. To book your train go to https://www.sj.se/
Travelling by bus: take the Flixbus or Vybuss, from Gothenburg, Linköping, or Nassjö (depending on your travel) to Jönköping Resecentrum. Note Flixbus has a stop in Gränna. To book your bus go to https://www.flixbus.se/ or https://www.vybus4you.se
Travelling by plane: Gothenburg Landvetter Airport is the main airport, with regular bus and trains to Jönköping (e.g. Vybuss and Flixbus go ten times per day direct from the airport to Jönköping Resecentrum and Gränna). Linköping City Airport has a regular shuttle plane with KLM, via Schiphol Amsterdam. VyBuss and Flixbus go from Linköping Central Station to Gränna and Jönköping Resecentrum.
Catering
Please inform us of any allergies (see registration).
There will be catering provided for the retreat, including breakfast at Gränna campus, tea, coffee and cold drinks, lunch at Gränna Campus, and self organized evening meals.
Food options at Gränna Campus: healthy breakfast options of fruit, yoghurt, cereals, bread etc, and vegan, fish and meat options for lunch, with a wide selection of salad and fresh options.
Food in the local area: Gränna is situated in a rich area for local food, including its’ famous polkasweets, hard bread, chocolate, and other locally produced cheeses, vegetables and meat and fish. There are many local farm stores nearby and on the island of Visingjö which showcase the local foods – excellent options for making meals in the evenings. There are restaurants and coffee shops in Gränna, including those by the harbour area, a café on the mountaintop, and two supermarkets open early in the morning until 11 in the evening every day of the week.
Accommodation
Gränna Campus has single rooms on Bergsgatan, a street located in the heart of the town by the main square, and a few minutes walk to the lake or the mountainside. The rooms come with bed linen and towels, each room as a sink. There is shared bathroom facilities. The rooms are 500 SEK per night, included in the fee.
If you prefer to book your own accommodation then Gränna has three main hotels, Hotel Amalia, Gränna Hotel and Gränna Gårdhotel, as well as various self catering options for apartments and rooms via websites and apps.
