Aims

The Trust for the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery was founded as an educational charity in March 2003 by seventeen long-standing Symposiasts.

"The objects of the Trust," as written in its founding Deed, "are the advancement of education in all aspects of food and cooking and the promotion of research into all aspects of those subjects for the benefit of the public."

The Trust Deed also makes clear that, "In the context of the Trust ...the words food and cooking are to be understood and interpreted in the widest sense."

The Trustees have the following powers which may be exercised in promoting the founding aims of the Trust:

  • "To promote or carry out research" - the aim of the annual Symposium is to encourage participants to carry out original research into any aspect of food and cooking relevant to that year's subject with a view to writing and presenting a paper on the topic.
  • "To provide advice" - we plan to offer advice to those seeking research facilities and possibly financial assistance towards the publication of academic food studies.
  • "To publish or distribute information either at an annual Symposium or otherwise" - a principal aim of the Trust is to provide a firm financial basis for the annual Symposium and so ensure its continuation. We intend that the proceedings of each Symposium continue to be published in book form and be made available to both specialist and general readers. We hope to fulfil our educational objective of bringing the study of food before a wider audience by setting up public lectures and talks.
  • "To cooperate with other bodies" - we plan to work with other educational foundations and institutions to place food studies on an established academic footing.
  • "To make grants or loans of money including bursaries, travel grants and research grants" - we plan to offer bursaries and travel grants to students who wish to attend the annual Symposium. We hope to offer research grants to those keen to undertake the study of food and cooking and its history, particularly in areas unlikely to attract funds from elsewhere.
  • "To raise funds" - we intend to raise funds in order to set up an Endowment Fund to allow the Trust to realise its educational objectives.

If you would like to join us in making these aims a reality we would welcome your help and participation.

 

The American Friends of the Oxford Symposium was founded by its President, Raymond Sokolov. For further information, please contact Cathy Kaufmann by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

If you would like to become a Benefactor of the Oxford Symposium by making a donation, please contact Paul Levy, Chair of the Trust by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .