The current Space and Culture editorial team are seeking applications for a new Editor-in-Chief and Co-Editors.
Space and Culture, published by SAGE since 2001, was established by its founding editor, Rob Shields in 1996 and published its first issue in February 1997, with Joost van Loon and Ian Roderick as co-editors. Joost is currently Editor-in-Chief (EiC). Justine Lloyd and Michael Schillmeier joined Rob and Joost with Rob and Joost in 2009.
The journal has established an international reputation for publishing high-quality and cutting-edge articles that explore both the socio-cultural dimensions of space and place and the spatial implications of contemporary social formations.
Rather than a traditional disciplinary journal, Space and Culture was established as
a junction of research on contemporary paradoxes of everyday life with the conceptual space of cultural moments, fears, hopes and projects
Shields 1997, p. 2
Nearly thirty years on, the journal has established a generative space for work on the socio-cultural aspects of space and place across and between many disciplines including geography, architecture, anthropology, sociology, design and urban history, technology and media studies.
The journal publishes four issues per year, featuring peer-reviewed scholarly articles as well as shorter ‘Postcard’ essays on contemporary issues and projects. The journal uses SAGE’s software submission program ScholarOne to process manuscript submissions and peer-reviews. Book reviews are published regularly via the journal’s blog: spaceandculture.com.
At the end of 2025, Joost van Loon will complete his term as editor of Space and Culture. The journal therefore seeks a new Editor-in-Chief, with preference given to a new EiC with expertise in a cognate research area and relevant academic editorial experience (e.g. recent editorship of special issue or edited collections). Prospective Editors-in-Chief should hold tenured positions at a college or university anywhere in the world. The term of the Editor-in-Chief will be five years, with the possibility of an extension for one to three more years.
Editorial Role
The EiC for Space and Culture will continue the tradition of promoting ethical standards in publishing and attracting top quality research of interest that intersects with the journal’s remit and builds scholarly conversations across disciplines. The EiC will be responsible for
- leading the editorial team, including supervising any locally-employed editorial assistants and working with associate editors;
- managing and administering the day-to-day operations of the journal;
- selecting, appointing, and managing the Space and Culture external Editorial Board (relevant academic experts not involved in the day-to-day running of the journal but who may contribute to peer-review and will be involved in supporting EiC);
- liasing with SAGE’s editorial staff who support the journal; and
- initiating other activities such as scholarly conferences and meetings that contribute to collaborative publications in the journal (see for example recent issues: 22(1) on the Journal’s 20th Anniversary; 22(2) on ‘Spatial Culture in Contemporary China’; 23(3) on ‘Spaces and Culture of Quarantine’; 25(2) on ‘Critical Perspectives on Sites of Conscience’, 26(3) on ‘Dis/abling Spaces and Cultures in Times of Crises’).
Proposals should identify a locally-employededitorial assistant responsible for ongoing journal administration under the supervision of the EiC, and a list of prospective external Editorial Board members andthe potential editorial team, i.e. potential Joint/Associate/Assistant Editors.
Criteria
The editorial team will evaluate proposals based on four key criteria:
1. Comprehensive vision for the journal. Proposals should spell out a clear vision for the journal that will help the editorial team – and eventually, readers and potential authors – understand the intended contributions of this journal to scholarship, and how the EiC will continue Space and Culture as an intellectual project. Proposals might include emerging areas of inquiry as well as pressing research questions, topics and themes, as well as concrete ideas for how the journal could best respond to and mobilise around these.
2. Editorial and administrative experience. The EiC should be familiar with the highest standards of scholarly assessment and publication, whether as authors of refereed journals and books, as scholarly journal and book editors, and/or as members of university press editorial boards. The EiC should have administrative experience that demonstrates appropriate levels of management, organizational, and communication skills.
3. Effective organizational plans and financial/institutional support. Submissions should demonstrate how the EiC is planning to handle and divide up the varied managerial demands of editorial work. Submissions should indicate where the editorial office will be located and describe the facilities and staffing that will be available. Submissions should also include a proposed budget that specifies 1) how the SAGE stipend (currently US $5K per annum) will be allocated, and 2) the contributions from the editor’s home institution (which may include things like faculty release time, salary contributions to the editorial assistant role, office staff personnel support, editorial team office space, or other contributions, such as funding for scholarly meetings which would contribute to increasing the journal’s visibility and engagement from prospective authors). Currently, the journal receives over 200 manuscripts per year, a number that has doubled over the past two years. The acceptance rate to the journal in 2024 was under 10%. Applicants should seek resources that can accommodate this submission rate and should anticipate an increasing volume of future submissions.
4. Diversity of editorial team. Submissions from editorial teams that comprise members from the global South, as well as including emerging scholars and reflect equity and diversity principles and commitments will be favourably reviewed.
Additional Materials
Potential EiCs should include a brief biographical summary and full c.v.. In addition, a representative of the EiC’s home institution should provide written statements specifying organisational commitments to practical support and resources, e.g. office space, financial subsidies, faculty release time, student or staff assistance or other material support that will be provided to the EiC, should their submission be accepted.
Selection Process
Potential candidates should feel free to consult with the joint editors and the current EiC, Professor Joost van Loon [email protected] about the journal and the EiC process.
Please send all editorial team proposals via email to [email protected].
Deadline for Submissions
We look forward to receiving submissions at any time. Please submit editorial team proposals at the latest by 15 October 2025.
The Editorial Selection Committee expects to announce the new editorial team by 15 December 2025, to start early 2026.
For more information:
Shields, R. (1997). Flow as a New Paradigm. Space and Culture, 1(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/120633129700100101
Shields, R. (2002). Space and Culture: A Resumé of Everyday Life. Space and Culture, 5(1), 4-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1206331202005001001
Shields, R. (2019). Space and Culture as Critical Practice and as Space of Culture. Space and Culture, 22(1), 4-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1206331218813038
Van Loon, J., & Charlesworth, S. (2006). Disastrous Social Theory—Lessons From New Orleans: Editorial Introduction. Space and Culture, 9(1), 7-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1206331205283738
van Loon, J. (2002). Social Spatialization and Everyday Life. Space and Culture, 5(2), 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/1206331202005002002
- The Journal’s home page on SAGE website:
