Standing Orders

This document should be read in conjunction with the Constitution [updated March 2026].

1.  Cultural Literacy Research Network (CLRN)

The Cultural Literacy Research Network is the successor of Cultural Literacy Everywhere, which was established in 2007 to unite researchers, academics, educators, artists, policy-makers and members of the cultural industries aiming to promote the interdisciplinary field of ‘literary and cultural studies’ [LCS] and its relationship to other research fields and cultural sectors, to develop and extend the contribution of LCS to Europe and its challenges. The scope and remit of CLRN have been expanded and newly defined in 2025 in the following manner: as an international, research-led association, our aim is to promote high quality, interdisciplinary research into the relationship between literacy, culture, educational policy and social change and in so doing, to raise public awareness of what it means to be ‘culturally literate’ in a globally divided, technologically dominated world. We bring together academics, educators, artists, policy makers and members of the cultural and creative industries through conferences, workshops, special events, funded projects, special interest groups and international partnerships leading to the dissemination and exchange of publications, work in progress and up to date information on cultural issues. 

2.  Terms of Office
  • The executive committee of CLRN is the Core Group [CG], whose members represent the broad interests of the forum.
  • The Core Group consists of the Steering Group (see below) and Ordinary Members. The Ordinary Members consist of all active SIG leaders. SIG leaders may share this role with another role in the Steering Group. 
  • The Steering Group [SG], which consists of the Chair, Treasurer, Early Career Rep, Membership Secretary, Website Manager, PR Manager, and the organiser of the next annual event, meets twice a year to prepare for the Core Group meetings. Steering group members shall be elected by the CLRN membership for four years and may be elected for one further period of four years, after which they shall relinquish membership of the SG for no less than one year. 
  • Terms of office will normally coincide with the calendar year, except when replacing an Officer or designated SG member; these will take up office at the retirement of the latter. 
3.  Procedure for Elections
  • The Chair shall be responsible for the conduct of elections. Nominations for election as a Member of the SG shall be solicited on a specified form, accompanied by the names of the proposer and seconder with confirmation of the prior agreement of the nominee. Nominations shall be supported by a brief election statement, giving qualifications and reasons for standing.
  • The election of Members of the Steering Group shall be conducted by an online ballot of all CLRN members, and the result, established by the Chair on the basis of first past the post, shall be announced on the website.
  • The Constitution and Standing Orders shall be subject to review at the CLRN annual General Council Meeting [AGM]. Notice of any change to either document will be announced to members at least two months in advance by the Chair.
4.  Membership and Subscription
  • Individual CLRN members (standard, sponsor or student/unwaged) benefit from the right to attend Conferences at a reduced rate, workshops etc, and have voting rights at the AGM and in elections to the Steering Group. 
  • The individual members’ subscription fee shall be agreed annually by the Core Group and shall fall due on 1 June each year.
5.  CLRN Partnership

Partner organisations benefit from mutual visibility and in-kind contribution to events. Their logo appears on all CLRN publicity. 

6.  Meetings 
  • There shall be one major CLRN event organised every year; at each of these an AGM will be held. These are: the Biennial Conference, held in odd calendar years, and a Workshop held in intermediate, even calendar years. Intermediary workshops will be themed around research topics related to Special Interest Groups or other CLRN topics.
  • The Steering and Core Groups shall meet at least twice a year. Meetings will usually be held virtually. 
  • A Core Group member failing to attend three consecutive meetings of the committee without good cause shall be deemed to have completed the term of office for which they were elected. 
7.  Working Groups, Special Interest Groups and Sub-Committees
  • The CG shall be responsible for developing such working groups, advisory panels or sub-committees as it considers appropriate. 
  • Special Interest Groups [SIGs] are organised by their single or joint leaders, under the aegis of the Core Group; they arrange networking throughout the year and organise events/workshops at biennial Conferences and other events as appropriate. Budget allocations relating to SIGs rest with the CG, to be revised from time to time. 
  • Conference organisation is the responsibility of a Conference Programme Committee [CPC], to be appointed by the Core Group and headed by the local Conference Organiser. The Conference Organiser and her/his local organising committee report to the CPC and thence to the CG. Strategic decisions about the conference are taken by the CG.
8.  Budget and Expenses
  • The CLRN financial year runs from 1 June to 31 May. The budget and accounts of CLRN are presented by the Treasurer once a year to the General Council at the AGM and biannually to meetings of the Core Group.
  • Reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the CG or other meetings attended by Officers on behalf of the CLRN shall, if claimed, be reimbursed by the Treasurer, to a maximum level pre-approved by the Steering Group. 
  • Reasonable expenses incurred by speakers at Conferences and workshops, whose expenses are not otherwise funded, shall be reimbursed, if claimed, by the Treasurer, to a maximum level pre-approved by the Steering Group. 
9.  Cooptation

The Core Group may coopt up to five additional members for specific duties in any one calendar year. Such members shall be non-voting and shall serve for a period no longer than two 2-year terms, at which point they may be elected to full Core Group membership. 

ANNEX

Main responsibilities of members of the CLRN Steering Group

Chair, responsible for: 

  1. fulfilling the overall strategic remit of CLRN and chairing meetings of the plenary membership (as represented at the AGM), the Steering Group and the wider Core Group;
  2. liaison at appropriate levels with national organisations & international organisations linked to the interests of CLRN;
  3. leading initiatives/projects taken up by CLRN and approved by the Steering Group, Core Group and wider membership as appropriate;
  4. being the primary public voice of CLRN in the media. 
  5. CLRN’s governance, updating Constitution and Standing Orders as required;

Hon. Treasurer, responsible for: 

  1. budgeting and keeping accounts of CLRN’s income and expenditure, and advising the Steering Group and wider Core Group of issues arising therefrom;
  2. advising the Steering Group and wider Core Group about and seeking approval for membership fee changes;
  3. advising the Steering Group and wider Core Group of the affordability of services and activities which CLRN may wish to take on;
  4. liaison with CLRN’s bankers (currently Barclays). 

Organiser of upcoming Conference, responsible for:

  1. chairing the Conference Programme Committee and local organising committee;
  2. all aspects of Conference organisation, in liaison with the Core Group and CLRN Officers.

Membership secretary, responsible for:

  1. developing communications strategies including the use of new media (eg blogs, wikis, Insta, Facebook and LinkedIn) for enhanced communication with the membership;
  2. liaising with the CLRN web manager and upkeep of mailing lists;
  3. publicising and promoting the benefits of CLRN membership.