One of the most extensive witch-hunts took place in the 17th century Vardø, on the shores of the gloomy Arctic Ocean. This summer (June 28th - July 1st) many well known names of the witchcraft research gather to Vardø, as the international Midnight Sun Witchcraft conference will take place. Conference is organized by several universities, including the University of Tromsø (Norway), the University of Texas at Austin (USA) and the University of Tampere (Finland).

The witch-hunts in Europe are not only a piece of history of witchcraft but, indeed, the history of persecutions. Therefore, the question about human rights – yesterday and today – is also raised to the focus. Human rights and torture also combine the present persecutions with the persecutions in history. Other current issues are ethnicity, nationality, religion, shamanism and gender. Special attention is given to the question of the sex of the witch. There were female as well as male witches. What was the difference?

The conference is not only for the scholars. Popular sessions, excursions, theatre and movie shows are also organised for the wider public. Full programme and registration, please, click on http://www.heksekonferansen.no/.

Keynote speakers: Brian P. Levack, Ronald Hutton, Diane Purkiss, Juha Pentikäinen, Rita Voltmer, Stuart Clark, Randi Rønning Balsvik, Marianna G. Muravyeva, Charles Zika, and others.

The conference is organized by:
University of Tromsø, Dept. of History, Norway
University of Texas at Austin, USA
University of Tampere, Dept. of History, Finland
University Library of Tromsø, Norway
University Library of Trondheim, Norway
University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Dept. of History and Classical Studies, Norway
University of Oslo, Dept. of Archaeology, Conservation and Historical Studies, Norway
Norden—The Nordic Culture Fund
Heksekonferansen nuf, Norway

The President of the Conference Board
Professor Brian P. Levack, Dept. of History, University of Texas at Austin, USA
The Chairman of the Executive Board
Professor Marko Nenonen, Dept. of History, University of Tampere, Finland

More information,
Mari Välimäki,
Conference secretary
mari.leino(at)uta.fi
+358 40 825 4548

Also: Riitta Leinonen,
Heksekonferansen nuf
post(at)heksekonferansen.no
+ 47 970 15406

Also:
Marko Nenonen,
University of Tampere
marko.nenonen(at)uta.fi
+358 40 577 9737