Unveiling the restored grave complexes in Kreuzberg cemeteries

On April 9, 2024, a wonderful celebration and opening took place at the Alter Luisenstädtischer and Dreifaltigkeit II cemetery in Berlin, Germany.

About the event

On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the Evangelischer Friedhofsverband Berlin Stadtmitte unveiled the results of completed restoration work on two remarkable historical grave complexes in the Kreuzberg cemeteries on Bergmannstrasse, along with their innovative repurposing concepts.

Superintendent Dr. Silke Radosh-Hinder dedicated the monumental grave site of the Löblich-Liebau Family at Alter Luisenstädtischer Cemetery to serve as an open-air chapel for funeral services.

The Kunzemann-Bornhagen Mausoleum, meticulously restored in the Dreifaltigkeit II Cemetery, now functions as a mourning farewell room. Here, relatives can spend precious additional time in a dignified ambiance bidding farewell to their departed loved ones.

Funding for these restoration projects was provided by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM), the Berlin State Monuments Office (LDA), and the German Foundation for Monument Protection (DSD), along with contributions from the Evangelischer Friedhofsverband of Berlin Stadtmitte.

Event photos:

Steering Committee meeting 2024 in Oslo

In the picturesque landscapes of Oslo, Norway, on the 14th and 15th of March 2024, the ASCE Steering Committee convened, igniting a beacon of progress in the realm of sustainability and community engagement.

Meeting agenda and main outcomes:

• Membership: The meeting covered membership concerns, including economic, technical, and administrative issues, and adapting invoice procedures for each member. Strategies for resolving various membership statuses accordingly to the charter were set up.
• ASCE operations: Proposals were made regarding changes to the charter and redefining member status. Furthermore, discussions on the vision and other organizational aspects of ASCE's future operations were conducted. In doing so, both the usefulness of the changes and legal aspects were taken into account. Plans for upgrading the website and further development of an effective CRM system were also presented.
• AGM 2024-2027: The Steering Committee checked and discussed the AGM 2024 program and conference theme. The date of this year's event was confirmed, and the communication plan was established. A call for hosting AGM 2025 to 2027 will be released soon.
• WDEC: Proposals were made for this year's and future WDEC, focusing on utilizing cemeteries as communication areas for sustainability. This involves leveraging United Nations promotional materials, creating exhibitions, sharing stories of important people in sustainability, educating on water-efficient plants, preserving heritage through sustainable initiatives, etc.
• European Cemeteries Route: The future of the European Cemeteries Route is also oriented towards sustainability. The work of the Sustainability group will continue. Training academies were recognized as very beneficial, and decisions were pending on participation for the current year. The Stories project will as well focus on sustainability by addressing themes outlined by the United Nations. Furthermore, it was noted that ARtour would soon provide custom applications for European Cemeteries Route members.
• Future plans and projects: Among other things, the debate took place on possible ways to ensure the accessibility of cemeteries to disabled people. Ideas regarding activities in 2025, when we will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, were presented. Participation in the European Heritage Days project has been discussed.

Conclusions

Overall the refreshed Steering Committee held a successful and very productive meeting.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Cemeteries Administration of the City of Oslo for their warm hospitality and impeccable organization.

More details on the individual topics discussed at the meeting will follow in further communications.

ASCE Conference 2024: Call for papers

The theme of this year's Conference is "Cemeteries as Cultural Spaces of European Remembrance".

Conference dates and venue

This year ASCE’s annual Conference will take place on Friday, 20 September 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. The exact location will be announced shortly.

Conference theme: Cemeteries as Cultural Spaces of European Remembrance

The upcoming Conference will focus on how cemeteries can become efficiently conveyed footprints of our joint European remembrance, tourism and education as well as park management and environmental sustainability due to continuous climate change. Remembrance and environment have always been topics many disciplines were interested in.

Therefore, Conference presentations may address (but are not limited to) the following main issues: 

• Remembrance – how can our cemeteries become efficiently conveyed footprints of our joint European remembrance
• e.g. significant funerals, commemoration, history
• Tourism and education
• e.g. cultural events, special history lesson, new technologies
• Park management and environmental sustainability due to continuous climate change
• e.g. heritage guardians vs. climate change

Proposals

Both individual and panel submissions are welcome.

Anyone who would like to give a presentation at the Conference should submit an abstract of no more than 250 words summarising the intended paper, and a one-page CV using the form below. Applications for panel discussions should include the names of up to four participants. 

FORM FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS

Submission deadline: Friday, 17 May 2024

The editorial board will review the submissions and all accepted participants will be notified by 30 June 2024.

Conference papers

Individual presentations should last 15 to 20 minutes, panel discussion 30 to 45 minutes.

We are seeking speakers with practical knowledge or experience who can communicate interesting and diverse presentation to the international audience.

The conference language is English. 

Editorial board

• Ágnes Herczeg
• Ágnes Sallay
• Andreea Pop
• Gábor Móczár
• Ian Dungavell
• Imola G. Tar
• Ioanna Paraskevopoulou
• János Prutkay
• Katalin Takács
• Tamara Rátz
• Tamás Fejérdy
• Zsolt Tóth

Further information

For any questions, please contact Anita Simon and István Kovács at budapestasce@nori.gov.hu.

Monumental cemetery of Pavia (Pavia, Italy)

The Monumental cemetery of Pavia is one of the city's most important cultural treasures, replete with artworks including paintings and sculptures.

Cemetery history

The first city cemetery was built at the end of the 19th century in a big area in the east part of the city, out of the historical wall, due to its natural characteristics. Altough the area was large, after only 10 years from its construction the space was already full of graves. Therefore the Municipality approved the project for the new Monumental cemetery composed of three parts: the historical courtyard, the first extension and the latest extension.

The historical courtyard was realized between 19th and 20th century. It has a cruciform plan with an entrance called Famedio, a space which collects the cenotaphs of the most famous people of local history, and a little church opposite to the entrance. Facing inside is a large perimeter wall with arcades, each dedicated to a family with a representative sculpture or painting and a grave on the floor below.

The 1st extension was realized between 1945 and 1955, due to an increase of population. The perimeter wall has a C shape plan in order to connect the cemetery with future extensions. The architectural language is similar to that of the historical courtyard but only at first sight. Under the arcades are placed nomore family monuments but simple loculus and ossuaries.

The 2nd extension was realized between 1965 and 1988. It is composed by 3 floors (ground floor, first floor, and basement) with arcades at the ground and first floor facing the inside and outside. The structure is built in reinforced concrete, with a contemporary architectural language, based on simplicity and functionality.

Cemetery significance

The cemetery has always had a laical connotation, in order to house the graves of people with different religious beliefs. Beyond two buildings dedicated to cremated people, there is a space called “Farewell Room”, a rounded space inside of a glass cube, devoid of religious symbols. People of other religions, such as Muslims, have two fields already available for their burials, while an Islamic association is currently building its own ossuary.

There are different types of artworks inside the cemetery. The oldest artworks are a series of maiolica tiles, placed on the entrance wall, coming from the former cemeteries of the churches of Pavia (17th and 18th century). Beside these, there are also many paintings and sculptures that reflect the sensitivity of the local families and at the same time the ability of the artists of that time.

Family chapels are not the only element of interest in the monumental cemetery. Like in many monumental cemeteries, some important people are buried here such as: Camillo Golgi, a medician who won the Nobel prize for medicine, and the first Italian man winning this award; Angelo Lanzoni, an engineer and the inventor of the reinforced concrete; Lazzaro Spallanzani, a biologist now considered the father of the artificial insemination, etc.

Lastly we can find also some Civil Monuments: the tower of the 1st crematorium, 1901, designed by Angelo Savoldi; the ossuary of the fallen during the World War I, 1930, designed by Hermes Balducci; the ossuary of the fallen during the World War II.

Cemetery address

Via San Giovannino
27100 Pavia
Italy

Basic data

Year of first burial: 1800
Current area: 9 ha
Approximate number of graves: 11.300

The cemetery from below the village (Volintiri, Moldova)

The cemetery boasts a unique blend of architectural and landscape design elements that have cultural and symbolic significance for local history and international connections.

About the cemetery

In the first half of the 19th century, as the village began to expand, there arose a need for a second cemetery. The original burial grounds had become overcrowded, and a new resting place was designated on the outskirts of the village. This became known as the second cemetery, located in the southwestern region of the village. In those times, the community was primarily involved in agriculture, with many families raising cattle. To safeguard this new cemetery from the grazing cattle, a protective fence was erected around its perimeter.

The cemetery comprises an older section, where weathered stone crosses mark the final resting places of generations long past. Over time, this hallowed ground became the chosen resting place for the village's more prominent figures, including mayors and community leaders. 

Locals have a unique saying, suggesting that in death, one goes to the lilac. This phrase originates from the tradition of planting lilac bushes near the graves. However, with an increasing number of people emigrating abroad, the lilac bushes have grown to cover over half of the cemetery's expanse. As a result, finding a specific grave in the second cemetery can prove to be challenging sometimes.

An interesting custom takes place at the cemetery every year, a week after Easter. The entire village gathers at the cemetery to honor the departed, cleaning and adorning graves with fresh flowers. They bring red eggs, sweet bread, and gifts to the cemetery, uniting in remembrance. The priest leads prayers, candles are lit, and wine is poured onto graves. Presents are distributed to the needy, emphasizing charity and unity. The day concludes with a communal meal, strengthening bonds and honoring traditions. 

Cemetery features

The cemetery described boasts a unique blend of architectural and landscape design elements that hold cultural and symbolic significance for the community.

The steel gate, designed and crafted by a local artisan, stands as a prominent architectural feature and serves as the portal to this sacred ground. Adorned with crosses, it assumes a dual role in the funeral ceremony, signifying both entry to the cemetery and a place of ceremonial importance.

The wooden crucifixions add another layer of significance to the cemetery's design. One is prominently situated at the entrance, acting as a spiritual guidepost for visitors. Others are strategically placed at the crossroads within the cemetery, symbolizing spiritual guidance in the journey of the departed souls. The combination of renovated and original crucifixes tells a story of time's passage and the preservation of tradition.

Historically, a chapel once graced the main entrance of the cemetery. However, due to age and financial constraints, it was demolished. The desire to rebuild a chapel now drives a crowdfunding initiative within the village. The restoration of this religious structure is a testament to the community's commitment to preserving its spiritual core and providing a dedicated space for mourning, reflection, and ceremonies.

The graves themselves bear a distinct design feature, each marked by a cross and a rectangular mound of earth. The rectangle mirrors the shape of a coffin and can be made from concrete, steel, or stone. This design unifies the graves, creating a sense of order and continuity in the burial ground. The inclusion of cross markings reaffirms the religious and spiritual essence of the cemetery, symbolizing the enduring connection to faith.

Another important facet is the tradition of planting flowers and trees at each grave. This landscape design element reflects the cycle of life and the ever-renewing connection between the living and the deceased. The vibrant blooms and foliage represent the continuity of memory and life's beauty even in the solemn setting of a cemetery.

Cemetery significance

Being the second of its kind in the village, the cemetery holds a profound historical significance. It stands as a testament to the community's enduring relationship with its departed members and the passage of time. Within its hallowed grounds rests the oldest grave, dating back to the 18th century. This time-honored site is a repository of historical and ancestral connections, a poignant reminder of the village's deep-rooted traditions and the passage of generations.

Furthermore, this cemetery serves as the final resting place for a Romanian pilot who met a valiant yet tragic end during the tumultuous period of the First World War. The presence of the pilot's grave underscores the village's historical link to international events and its willingness to pay tribute to those who have made sacrifices on behalf of their country.

In summary, this cemetery is a repository of both local history and international connections, bridging the past and the present. It reflects the enduring respect and remembrance bestowed upon those who have played significant roles in the village's narrative in the course of history.

Cemetery address

Tricolor
4241 Volintiri
Moldova

Basic data

Year of first burial: 1748
Current area: 4 ha
Approximate number of graves: 5.000

Ferrara Charterhouse (Ferrara, Italy)

Defined by six centuries of history, this stunning place has evolved from a monks' monastery to a monumental cemetery and a true open-air museum.

Cemetery history

The Ferrara Charterhouse has accompanied the most salient stages of Ferrara’s evolution, a city initially cradle of the Renaissance, then northern offshoot of the Church State during the legatizia age, and later Napoleonic centre and rearguard in the liberation process. Stages that have left their marks on this monument’s transformations over time.

The main milestones in the cemetery's history are:

• 1438 - The Order of Carthusians’ reception in the city was proposed during the Council of Basel, which was transferred to Ferrara that year.
• 1452 - Borso d’Este, the future first Duke of Ferrara, arranged and financed the construction of the monastery and the complex to be used by the Carthusian monks, who would settle there in 1461. Borso’s remains are still preserved in the exedra near the entrance to the First Great Cloister.
• 1498 - Ercole I d’Este arranged for the complex to be incorporated within the Herculean Addition and entrusted the monumentalisation of the Church of San Cristoforo to the great court architect Biagio Rossetti.
• 1799 - At the behest of Napoleon, the Charterhouse was repurposed as barracks for the cavalry and the monastery was secularised.
• 1813 - The Carthusian complex, now owned by the Municipality, was transformed into a monumental cemetery based on the design by Ferdinando Canonici, with the contribution of Antonio Foschini, Giuseppe Campana, Leopoldo Cicognara, Giovanni Pividor, Niccolò Matas and Antonio Diedo.
• 1962 - The Second Great Cloister, the last of a series of expansions made between the nineteenth century and the fascist era, was completed.

Cemetery significance

Ferrara, whose historic centre is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the birthplace of numerous great figures in the fields of literature and the visual arts, who, after their lives of fame and international success, returned to their hometown to be laid to rest.

The Ferrara Chartherhous includes the graves of poets, architects, sculptors, painters, and film directors.

It also includes important religious and military points such as the terracotta Via Crucis by eclectic sculptor Ulderico Fabbri and the Memorial Chapel of the Dead by Carlo Savonuzzi built at the behest of the Municipality to commemorate the nineteenth century soldiers who died in the field and military hospitals during the First and Second World Wars.

Furthermore, the Ferrara Charterhouse holds a unique place among Ferrara’s vast range of monuments. It’s a place where memories of the past, masterpieces of sacred art, and traces of the relationship between the city and the community lie enshrined, shrouded in silence, and enveloped in an atmosphere of peaceful meditation. Visiting the Charterhouse means delving into the deepest recesses of Ferrara’s history of sculpture, architecture and urbanism.

It is also a park of over 6 hectares located in the heart of the city. An immense and peaceful green area, in which rare and extraordinarily beautiful trees and plant varieties live and grow. The perfect destination to enjoy moments of reflection in contact with nature.

Cemetery address

Via Borso 1
44121 Ferrara
Italy

Cemetery contacts

Chiara Bruschi
E-mail: chiara.bruschi@ferraratua.it
Phone: 0532 230155

Ilaria Tabellini
E-mail: ilaria.tabellini@holdingferrara.it
Phone: 0532 230155

Website: www.certosadiferrara.it

Basic data

Managing organization: Holding Ferrara Servizi S.r.l. and Ferrara Tua s.r.l
Current area: 6 ha
Approximate number of graves: 25.738
Main nationalities: Italian, American, Argentinian, Libyan, Croatian

International Conference in Athens 2024: Program

The Harokopio University presents you the program of the International Conference on Cemetery Studies, taking place from 18 to 20 April 2024 in Athens, Greece.

About the conference

The International Conference on Cemetery Studies, organized by the Harokopio University in collaboration with the University of York, both members of ASCE, will take place from 18 to 20 April 2024 at the Harokopio University in Athens, Greece.

The event will bring together a wide spread of academics, presenting their latest research findings concerning various aspects of cemeteries (end of 18th century onwards), including history, art and culture, anthropology, geography, social studies, and cemetery tourism.

The guest of honor at the event will be the ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

Participation at the conference

The conference fee is 30 euros (15 euros for doctoral students). The fee includes a light lunch, refreshments, and a guided tour in the historical cemetery of Athens. 

Conference language: English.

Conference program

You can find the detailed program of the event at this LINK.

Greek-orthodox cemetery (Livorno, Italy)

Besides its architectural and artistic significance, the cemetery stands as an important symbol of the once bright Greek community and Diaspora in Livorno and wider area.

Cemetery history

The Greek Orthodox community of Livorno, after constructing their church in via della Rosa Bianca in 1760, was permitted to establish the first Greek-Orthodox cemetery near the Cisternone in 1776. This initial cemetery space was eventually closed due to the rapid development of the city, with the last burial occurring in 1838.

In the same year, the Greek confraternity purchased the field where the current cemetery stands, on via Marco Mastacchi, next to the same sized Dutch cemetery. The cemetery officially opened in 1840, and the burials from the older cemetery were moved there.

Cemetery features

Designed by Olinto Paradossi, renowned for other notable projects in Livorno's public spaces during the 19th century, the new Greek-Orthodox cemetery boasts a rectangular layout covering 3818 m2. It comprises the church of the Dormition of Virgin Mary, an entrance building shared with the neighboring Dutch cemetery, and an expansive tree-planted area housing scattered burial monuments and fencing.

In total there are 242 burial monuments in the cemetery, featuring inscriptions in Greek, Italian, and the Cyrillic alphabet. Notably, 64 of these tombs are situated within the church, covering the floor, and presenting an unusual typology, reminiscent of monastic-type churches found in Mount Athos. Surprisingly, behind these burials, instead of the holy step one might expect, there lies a rectangular space filled also with tombs covered with cross vaults. These graves belong to prominent figures of Livorno's flourishing Greek Community, intimately tied to the city's history and, most significantly, to the revolution and liberation of Greece in 1821.

Outdoors, numerous striking marble tombs and monuments complement the chapel's artistic elements, including a curved wood iconostasis, oil paintings, and special floor tombs, forming an architectural and landscape ensemble with significant cultural and historical value. 

There have been no alterations or changes to the original design and all the current efforts are now focused on preserving the original artistic elements and their integrity.

Cemetery significance

The cemetery with its church stands for much more than a religious space for the Greek and Orthodox community in Livorno. Is rather a symbol of recognition and acceptance. And still today, it represents a very much connected and alive part of the local Greek community.

The Greek-orthodox cemetery is also one of the few such old orthodox cemeteries, located outside Greece, operating independently rather than within another cemetery context. 

The temple that is bearing the floor tombs, along with the striking external marble tombs, forms a remarkable architectural ensemble, and it has been rightfully recognized by Italian authorities as a cultural monument to be preserved.

Cemetery address

Via Marco Mastacchi 227
57122 Livorno
Italy

Basic data

Year of first burial: 1820
Year of last burial: 2009
Current area: 0,38 ha
Approximate number of graves: 242

AGM 2024: Save the date

This year's AGM and Conference will take place from 19 to 21 September 2024 in Budapest, Hungary.

About the AGM and Conference

Each year, the Annual General Meeting attracts over 100 cemetery academics, artists and professionals from all over Europe. It generates a lot of public attention and through the conference helps expose important topics on cemetery's history, art, architecture, cultural heritage, sustainability, management, and future trends.

AGM 2024

This year, we anticipate another splendidly organized event featuring compelling current topics and a diverse cultural program, promising an unique and memorable experience.

Join us at the AGM and Conference 2024, taking place from 19 to 21 September in Budapest, Hungary.

A call for papers, as well as all the details about the event program, accommodation, and other logistics, will be released in the following weeks.

We look forward to seeing you this September at the AGM 2024.

ASCE presidency

WDEC 2024 at the Monumental cemetery of Pavia

Discover the events that will take place in Pavia, Italy, during the WDEC 2024 and throughout the year.

Events program

➤ 10 March 2024, at 15.00: The women of the "Famedio": a mission of love and generosity (conference)

➤ 22 March 2024, from 9.00 to 13.00: In memory of Giuliano Ravizza, a life for Pavia (Docufilm and conversation at the Cinema Teatro Politeama in Pavia - initiative aimed at high schools in Pavia)

➤ 24 March 2024, at 15.00: Female figures between allegory and reality (guided tour)

➤ 14 April 2024, at 15.00 and at 17.00: The history of the monumental cemetery, il "Famedio" (guided tour)

➤ 21 April 2024, at 15.00: Camillo Golgi: a Nobel Prize winner from Pavia (conference)

➤ 12 May 2024, at 18.00 and at 21.00: This death that accompanies us from morning to night (guided tour)

➤ 24 May 2024, at 21.00: Summer concert (musical event)

➤ 15 September 2024, at 18.00 and at 21.00: Sciences and scientists at the cemetery (theatrical visit)

➤ 13 October 2024, at 15.00 and at 17.00: The soldiers' graves and commemorative monuments (guided tour)

➤ 20 October 2024, at 15.00: Torquato Taramelli: a life for geology (conference)

➤ 24 November 2024, at 15.00: Pietro Pavesi and Ercole Fossati: two people from Pavia with a life dedicated to their city (conference)

➤ 15 December 2024, at 16.00: Christmas concert (musical event)

Additional information and reservations

All the events are free of charge but prior reservations are required since the number of places is limited.

For additional information and reservations contact "Assessorato Servizi Cimiteriali" al cfusco@comune.pv.it or +39 03823 99427.

More about the Monumental cemetery of Pavia at this LINK.

*Photo source: Di Lou Salomé - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21209271

UNESCO initiative from Germany

The "Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur" invites you to join the initiative "Intangible cultural heritage: Cemetery culture in Europe".

About the initiative

Cemetery culture is part of the "Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage" in Germany. It refers to the architecture of cemeteries, burial practices and mourning and commemoration rituals. Associated craft techniques and customs preserve this cultural form and ensure the maintenance of the cemeteries.

The official partner of the German UNESCO Commission for the care, preservation and further development of this intangible cultural heritage is the "Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur". This non-profit association is now reaching for a UNESCO nomination of "Intangible cultural heritage:  Cemetery culture in Europe" as a common initiative of several European countries. To achieve this aim, it is necessary that other European countries obtain the Intangible Cultural Heritage status for their national cemetery culture.

Call for cooperation

The Kuratorium is now looking for European partners. If you are interested in collaboration, please contact Tobias Pehle (director of the Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur) at info@kulturerbe-friedhof.de or +49 163 171 70 39 925.

The official call for cooperation can be found HERE.

*Photo by Tobias Pehle, source https://www.unesco.de/en/culture-and-nature/intangible-cultural-heritage/cemetery-culture

"Cimitero dal Vivo": a unique way to discover Ravenna's Historic Cemetery

An innovative format that includes a digital game R-Tales, a new digital map, and a live show with music, theater, and performance.

Cemeteries as living spaces

Playing in a historic cemetery may seem transgressive, but you can do it, you must. This was precisely the goal set by Panda Project's "Cimitero dal Vivo" (eng. "Cemetery Live"), winner of the PNRR TOCC Call for Proposals Digital Transition Cultural and Creative Bodies funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU.

In December 2022, Emilia Romagna was the first region in Italy that passed a law for the "Recognition and Enhancement of Monumental and Historic Cemeteries", with the aim of ensuring the enhancement, preservation and promotion of these assets, encouraging their use by citizens.

In England, cemeteries are living places, where it is possible to walk, read, study or have a picnic with friends. The northern European cemeteries provide a different way of being with the deceased. The Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen, for example, is not experienced as a place of sadness but of recreation, and it is not uncommon to see people sunbathing.

About the project

The "Cimitero dal Vivo" project, carried out in 2024, aims to regenerate the entire Darsena district and is based on an innovative format for visiting Ravenna's Historic Cemetery that makes use of new digital tools and immersive audio. The project created the urban digital game R-Tales, a new digital map, and a live show that combines music, theater, and performance creating a unique and unforgettable experience.

How does the game work? Davide Leone, Soc. Coop U'Game, explains: "The purpose of the R-Tales game is to help a mysterious soul find himself by confronting four exciting missions that recount as many important events in the city's history. You will discover, through the deceased voices of the main characters the adventure of Giuseppe Garibaldi and the exploits of Romolo Gessi, the mystery of Dante's bones, the quarrel between the most important orchestra conductor of the time and Giuseppe Verdi over the love of a soprano."

The map and urban game are part of a series of interactive online paths that take us through emotional-collective memories to discover the characters buried at the cemetery who made the city's history, such as Luigi Rasi and Filippo Mordani. They immerse us in the mysteries hidden among the graves and the artistic wonders of the Monumental Cemetery.

The importance of the project

"Monumental places in our city have always inspired artists," says Ravenna Culture Councillor Fabio Sbaraglia, "They have stimulated projects capable of placing diverse spot lights on spaces we are fond of or used to hang out at. Panda Project, with a special look and a deep and conscious respect, investigates the history of our historic cemetery through a project that embraces the entire dock area and connects with the urban regeneration experiences that our city has undertaken over the years."

"Historic cemeteries are magical places and they are free: A historical, cultural and green heritage that must be enhanced and not left to decay. We need to change the paradigm: we must give historic cemeteries a new meaning and people a new way of approaching them and approaching death," explains Delia Trice of Panda Project.

Matteo Pini of Spazi Indecisi, who created the project's graphic identity and the new mapping, tells of their involvement: "The sensations conveyed by the Historic Cemetery immediately pushed the work of Spazi Indecisi toward a concept related to contrasts: the most recurrent dualism (life/death) is materialized symbolically through the anomalous, borderline location that contrasts monumental and industrial architecture, widening the point of view, nature and anthropization, land and water. The intention is to highlight the cemetery's values of memory, rest and tranquility, in which the natural presence of trees and water mitigates that of some Gothic novel settings, arousing in the visitor a sense of fascination rather than disquiet. Hence the choices of lettering, more friendly than austere, and of a high-contrast color palette, which combines cool tones of blue with the industrial buildings, and warm tones of yellow and red with the cemetery. Also evident between the lines is a reference to the heraldic colors of the city of Ravenna and an admiring reference to "Deserto Rosso" (M. Antonioni, 1964) in the choice of the color of the pine trees."

Project participants

A great contribution to the project was that of Sguardi in Camera, an association specializing in private visual archives (family films and photographs). For the "Cimitero dal Vivo" project, it oversaw the research and collection of oral testimonies of teenagers.

Frame Lab - UniBo and Penelope Muratori, who worked on text verification, writing and video material creation for the project, produced a narrative in images that takes us inside the experience created by the game.

Link to the video: https://vimeo.com/910792719

Panda Project contacts:

info@pandaproject.it
+39 347 0743593

AGM 2024: Share your preferences

Complete a short survey to help us organize this year's AGM & Conference according to your wishes.

This year's AGM and Conference will take place in the second half of September in Budapest, Hungary.

Before releasing the exact date and program, we would like to hear your opinions and preferences regarding certain aspects of the event organization.

To ensure that your experience at the AGM and Conference will meet your expectations, please complete a short survey which was prepared for this purpose. The survey is anonymous, and your answers will be taken into account when determining the details of the event. We will do our best to tailor the AGM & Conference to your preferences.

Access the survey

Due to organizational deadlines, please complete the survey by March 1, 2024.

Accessibility of cemeteries

Share your examples of good practices regarding accessibility challenges in your cemetery.

The objective of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) is to raise European citizen awareness of the importance of significant cemeteries. We encourage people to visit and explore cemeteries, learn about them, and in this way, start seeing them as places of life that carry a rich cultural heritage. For this to be possible, cemeteries must be accessible to everyone - including people with disabilities or reduced mobility.

The COCEMFE's project

The Spanish Confederation of People with Physical and/or Organic Disabilities (COCEMFE) Asturias is currently working on a project, in which they try to make a cemetery area located in a natural space as accessible as possible for people with disabilities and/or reduced mobility, so that all citizens can make use of this new public space.

Since this is a very important topic that should be exposed more often, we are reaching out to our ASCE and European Cemeteries Route members as well as all other cemetery managers. On behalf of the COCEMFE, we are asking you to share your examples of successful practices regarding accessibility challenges in your cemeteries. We encourage you to provide insights into how you have overcome these issues, ensuring maximum accessibility for all cemetery visitors. Additionally, suggestions for further improvements on this field are welcomed.

Share examples of good practices

If you believe that your cemetery has implemented effective solutions to facilitate easy access for individuals with disabilities and mobility impairments, please contact David Fernández González from the Oficina Técnica de Accesibilidad at accesibilidad@cocemfeasturias.es.

We hope that as many of our members as possible can serve as exemplary models in promoting accessibility on cemeteries!

WDEC 2024: Environmental sustainability and climate change

This year's WDEC will focus on cemeteries' dedication to environmental sustainability and fight against climate change.

Climate change is the consequence of global warming of the Earth and the overall increase in temperature caused by the toxic emissions generated in human activities.

European cemeteries are determined allies in the common fight against climate change. They have been working for years on its mitigation through a wide range of actions and initiatives that demonstrate a strong commitment to the environment. Common measures to reduce environmental impact include:

• responsible use of fossil energies and water,
• progressive incorporation of renewable energy sources,
• respect for the plant and fauna biodiversity of our enclosures,
• enhancement of native vegetation,
• responsible waste management,
• progressive electrification of vehicle fleets.

This year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, scheduled from 24 May to 2 June, will try to highlight the important issue of climate change through various events and activities and showcase different ways in which cemeteries and their visitors can contribute to reducing environmental impact.

Share your activities

We invite you to send programs, photos and other materials of your planned activities during WDEC 2024 to admin@significantcemeteries.org. We will be happy to publish them on the ASCE website and our social networks.

30th EAA Annual Meeting: Call for papers

The Iron Age Danube Route invites you to participate in their session at the 30th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists in Rome, Italy.

About the event

The Iron Age Danube Route is organizing a session in the scope of the 30th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists, taking place from 28 to 31 August 2024 in Rome, Italy.

The session's theme is "The Living Heritage: Archaeological Cultural Routes in the Context of Cultural Tourism Network".

The purpose of the session is to discuss the potential of archaeological heritage in fostering cultural tourism and creating sustainable cultural resources for local communities. It will highlight the challenges in effectively integrating archaeological sites into tourism, emphasizing the need for long-term sustainability at the local level. Furthermore, the session aims to explore ways in which archaeological cultural routes, particularly those under the Council of Europe, can contribute to long-term partner and stakeholder networks. 

Experts from diverse fields are expected to share theoretical models, approaches, and examples of good practices in developing cultural tourism products based on archaeological heritage.

Details about the session are available HERE.

Call for papers

Anyone who would like to participate in the session is invited to submit their presentation abstract at the EAA website.

Deadline for abstract submission is 8 February 2024.

For any additional questions please contact Mrs. Marta Rakvin at ironagedanuberoute@gmail.com.

*Photo source: www.e-a-a.org/eaa2024

Festive gathering at the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery

A special event, that marked the five-year anniversary of the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery Initiative and its efforts for the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery.

About the event

On 15 December 2023, the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery Initiative held its second annual seasonal gathering at Istanbul’s Feriköy Protestant Cemetery. Besides celebrating the holidays, the event showcased the results of a major 2023 preservation project. Supervised by Initiative member The American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT), with funding from the US Mission to Türkiye as well as a private donor, the conservation work comprised shoring up, realigning, repairing, and cleaning twelve historic tombs in the cemetery’s US section. Several other achievements of 2023 were also celebrated, including the completion of a year-long study of the cemetery’s ecology supported by the British Institute at Ankara and the finalization of monument recording in the cemetery’s German section by interns from Orient-Institut Istanbul (OII).

Attended by members of foreign diplomatic missions and research centers, students and administrators from Istanbul’s Robert College (RC), and other guests, the event opened with speeches and a music program in the cemetery’s chapel, continued with a tour of the renovation area, and ended with a reception, which included the cutting of an “Initiative cake.”

Robert College also held a memorial ceremony beside four of the newly restored tombs that commemorate family members of the school's founder, Cyrus Hamlin. A new RC memorial plaque on the wall behind the tombs was also unveiled, along with a newly designed information panel for the cemetery's US section, which serves as a model for further informational signage in the cemetery’s other international sections. Prototype QR codes for two of the renovated monuments were also highlighted as a method for providing details about those that the tombs commemorate.

This event marked the five-year anniversary of the Initiative and its efforts for the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery. Among its many activities, the Initiative has mapped the cemetery; recorded and renovated its monuments; studied its ecology; publicized its history; catalogued and digitized its archive; and created new rules and procedures to improve its administration. “PCI”—professionalism in all its endeavors, cooperation among its members and with the cemetery’s governing board and the public, and involvement in all aspects of the site—is the hallmark of the Protestant Cemetery Initiative, both for the last half decade and for the future.

Please write to initiative@ferikoycemetery.org or further information about the Initiative, its work, and how to become involved.

Photos:

QR code to scan.

25th Cemeteries Colloquium: Call for papers

The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the 25th Cemeteries Colloquium, taking place on the 24th May 2024 in York, UK.

About the event

On the 24th May 2024, the 25th Cemeteries Colloquium will take place as a live meeting in York, United Kingdom.

The Colloquium, organized by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), has developed into an essential forum for the discussion of new and emerging cemetery scholarship and is multi-disciplinary, accepting papers from across all the humanities and social sciences. The event has an emphasis on discussion, and its international and interdisciplinary nature makes the meeting particularly thought-provoking.

Call for papers

Anyone who would like to participate is invited to submit their presentation abstract of no more than 250 words by using the submission portal at the Cemetery Research Group website.

Deadline for abstract submission is 11th April 2024.

For any additional questions please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

*Photo source: www.cemeteryresearch.org

International Conference in Athens 2024: Call for paper

The Harokopio University invites you to participate in the International Conference on Cemetery Studies, taking place from 18 to 20 April 2024 in Athens, Greece.

About the conference

From 18 to 20 April 2024, the International Conference on Cemetery Studies will take place at Harokopio University in Athens, organized by Harokopio University in collaboration with the University of York, both members of ASCE.

The event intends to bring together a wide spread of academics, presenting their latest research findings concerning various aspects of cemeteries (end of 18th century onwards), including history, art and culture, anthropology, geography, social studies and cemetery tourism. Postgraduates and doctoral students are especially welcome.

The guest of honor at the event will be the ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

The conference fee is 30 euros (15 euros for doctoral students), including light lunch, refreshments and a guided tour in a historical cemetery of Athens. 

IMPORTANT: For all ASCE members who wish to attend the conference (without presentation) there won't be registration fees. The number of places is limited, so please confirm your participation at ioannaparaskevopoulou@yahoo.gr by the end of February.

Conference language: English.

Call for papers

Abstracts of no more than 300 words and a short, 100-word CV (both in word format and in English) should be sent to ioannaparaskevopoulou@yahoo.gr no later than 31 January 2024.

An edited selection of papers from the conference will be published in electronic form (with ISBN).

You can find the entire call for papers HERE.

2° Cultural Routes Academic Workshop

We invite you to attend the 2° Cultural Routes Academic Workshop, which will take place online on 7th December 2023.

About the workshop

Following a successful first edition in 2021, the European Institute of Cultural Routes (Technical Agency of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme) in cooperation with the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies is organising its second academic workshop with the purpose of bringing together scholars, researchers, and students to exchange and share their research outcomes in the field of Cultural Routes studies.

The workshop will be held entirely online on Thursday, 7th December 2023, via the Zoom platform and streamed through the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Facebook page @CultureRoutes.

Program

The program will feature the presentation of theoretical perspectives, state of the art research reports, case studies and research work relating to Cultural Routes from a variety of disciplines and universities across Europe. Presentations and discussions will revolve around four main themes:

1. Redefining cultural routes: exploring dynamic narratives of religious heritage and cultural assets.
2. A holistic approach to sustainable tourism and community engagement along cultural routes.
3. Cultural routes for all: digitalization and accessibility for an inclusive cultural experience.
4. Addressing challenges and shaping the future of cultural routes through cooperation and innovative approaches.

A preliminary programme of the workshop can be found HERE.

Further details are available at https://www.coe.int/en/web/cultural-routes/academic-workshop-2023. 

We are pleased that, among other things, the results of the workshop "Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: Cultural Heritage, Landscape and Tourism" will also be presented. A project from 2022 in which the European Cemeteries Route also participated. 

Participation at the workshop

European Cemeteries Route has been a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2010. Therefore, we would like our representatives to attend the workshop with some interesting presentation topics.

We invite anyone who would like to participate in the workshop to send their presentation proposal in English to ioanna@significantcemeteries.org till 9th November 2023, so that we can review it before the official submission of the abstract to the organizers of the event.

You can find the entire call for papers HERE and the abstract template HERE.