AGM 2023 report

On September 21st, the ASCE Annual General Meeting took place in the TEA headquarters in Mantua, Italy.

Over 130 participants from 16 countries attended the splendidly organised Annual General Meeting and Conference. This year's AGM was particularly important since the elections were held for the ASCE president and steering committee members.

The AGM was preceded by Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, president of ASCE, and all steering committee members were present or gave proxy to other members. During the AGM several things were outlined and discussed:

1.Introduction

Welcome speech by ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

2.Presidency and Steering Committee activities 2022 / 2023

• Steering Committee meetings and sessions
• AGM 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia
• Work practice in School
• Best practices award 2022 for Schools on cemeteries project
• Organizing bus tour around Greece
• Signing the declaration of intent
• ESJF European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative conference: Protecting Jewish Cemeteries
• International seminar “Rethinking landscapes Perspective. Debate and Exchange”
• 10th Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Training Academy
• Training Seminar for Candidate Routes
• Municipal Cemetery of Kifissia admission to the European Cemeteries Route
• Women Writers Route certificate award ceremony
• 1st international scientific and professional conference on cemeteries in Varaždin

3. ASCE administration and European Cemeteries Route activities 2022 / 2023

European Cemeteries Route Manager, Mr Dušan Vrban, presented:

• ASCE analysis and strategy
• IT upgrades (CRM system)
• New version of Artour app and completely new European Cemeteries Route app

4. Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024

SC member, Mr Miquel Trepat, presented the theme of the WDEC 2024 - "Cemeteries for environmental sustainability and committed to the fight against climate change."

5. Schools on cemeteries

SC member, Mrs Andreea Pop, presented past and current activities and achievements of the project Schools on cemeteries.

6. Research and science

SC member, Mrs Andreea Pop, presented past and current activities and achievements in the field of Research and science.

7. Communications

SC member, Mrs Renate Niklas highlighted the importance of communication and higher engagement on all available communication platforms (website, social tools, etc.) to be more visible.

8. New members and significant cemeteries

SC members, Mrs Melissa La Maida and Mr John Moffat, presented the new members and significant cemeteries of ASCE as well as new European Cemeteries Route members.

9. Financial report

ASCE president, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, presented a review of the financial status and situation of ASCE.

10. Elections

ASCE members voted for the new ASCE president and steering committee members. Among candidates, members voted for following:

• Lidija Pliberšek, Maribor, Slovenia (president)
• Melissa La Maida, Bologna, Italy (SC member and vide president)
• Miquel Trepat Celis, Barcelona, Spain (SC member and vide president)
• Renate Niklas, Vienna, Austria (SC member)
• Valérie Madoka Naito, Dresden, Germany (SC member)
• Thodoris Tzoumas, Skiathos, Greece (SC member)
• Wenche Eriksson, Oslo, Norway (SC member)
• Andreea Pop, Bucharest, Romania (SC member)

Newly elected president Lidija Pliberšek nominated new delegated representatives:

• Theodora-Virginia (Rania) Dalli, Kifissia, Greece
• Gábor Móczár, Budapest, Hungary
• Sara Carlquist, Stockholm, Sweden
• Ian Dungavell, London, United Kingdom

10. AGM 2024

Mr. Martin Ernerth presented an overview of the previous meetings. Then Mr Móczár Gábor Attila introduced the proposal to host the AGM 2024 in Budapest, Hungary.

11. Conclusion

Closing speech by Mr Ian Dungavell.

A new chapter in preserving European cemetery heritage

Introductory thoughts of ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, at the beginning of a new 4-year mandate.

Dear members, partners, and supporters of ASCE,

I am extremely proud and grateful that, at this year's elections in Mantua, Italy, I was given the opportunity to continue the presidency of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe. The trust you have placed in me fills me with immense gratitude. It is a trust I do not take lightly, and I pledge to proceed serving our shared mission with persistent devotion.

Twenty years ago, we embarked on a journey that was then relatively unknown. United with the same goal - the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage resting within European cemeteries - we started with just seven founding members. Today, with immense pride, I can say that we have grown into an organization with 180 members, a result of the hard work, dedication, and passion of each individual member. Our journey has been long but astonishingly successful.

The development our organization has experienced during this period has been remarkable. We established a clear vision and strategy that has been honed and perfected over the years. One of the key changes we have achieved is the professional administrative management of the organization and the digitization of our processes. We realized that in order to succeed and grow, it was essential to keep pace with the trends of the digital age. Today, we can proudly boast of the professional and digital support that enables members to actively participate in projects and contribute to our common goal.

Throughout, we have strived to strengthen the relationship between the presidency and the members. In the past, many of us pondered what ASCE could offer them. Today, we have reached a point where our members are empowered. They no longer ask what the organization can do for them but instead question what they can do for ASCE shared mission.

Our passion and dedication have led us to a moment where we can leverage this recognition to make our broader environment and institutions contemplate what they can do to assist and collaborate with us in preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of European cemeteries. It is crucial for significant institutions, ministries, institutes, and others to integrate our mission into their operations. Our organization is prepared for this challenge, and with great optimism, I believe that together, we will fulfil our mission in the best possible way.

So, thank you for being part of this exceptional community. Thank you for your trust, dedication, and unwavering belief in what we do. May the next four years leave another important mark in the story of ASCE.

Lidija Pliberšek, M. Sc.
ASCE president

ASCE Conference 2023: Live streaming and simultaneous translation

This year, a free live stream of the conference is available as well as the possibility of simultaneous translation of the conference into 5 different languages.

Great news for those who cannot attend the ASCE conference 2023 in person or who will be present at the conference in Mantua but are not the most sovereign in following foreign language presentations. 

This year, a free live stream of the conference is available as well as the possibility of simultaneous translation of the conference into 5 different languages (English, French, Greek, Italian and Spanish).

Below are the instructions for accessing the live stream and setting your preferred translation language.

Instructions for those present at the conference

1. To listen or read the translation of the presentations in the desired language from your PC, smartphone or tablet click HERE.
2. Choose one of the 5 languages available for translation to listen to or display on the device, as seen in the picture.
3. After choosing your desired language click on Join.
4. In the following, the translation will appear on the screen of your device. You can read it or listen to it with headphones connected to your device.
5. To activate the audio, click on the speaker icon, available next to the flag representing the chosen language.

It is possible to listen to the translation even with the device locked. With the screen turned off the battery consumption is reduced. If necessary, it will be possible to recharge PCs, smartphones and tablets via the charging station available at the conference. For information, contact the staff present in the room.

Instructions for those who will follow the live stream remotely

1. To follow the live stream of the conference on the YouTube channel from your PC, tablet or smartphone click HERE.
2. To access the translation program:

• Open another tab or window in your browser.
• Connect HERE.
• Choose one of the 5 languages available for the translation.
• Attention: keep the screens of both platforms open to be able to watch the live streaming and listen to the translation at the same time.

In case of problems or questions, please contact us at admin@significantcemeteries.org. 
The above instructions in Italian language are available HERE.

Elections candidates 2023

We present you the list of candidates for president and Steering Committee 2023.

Elections 2023

The elections will take place at the ASCE Annual General Meeting on Thursday, September 21st, 2023, starting at 17.00. 

Location:  TEA headquarters, Via Giuseppe Taliercio 3, 46100 Mantua, Italy

Participation is allowed to ASCE members only.

List of candidates

According to ASCE charter and calls for candidates we have prepared the list of candidates for Steering Committee and president. List is presented by alphabetical order by countries and within country by name. Please note that each member has a presentation in the link attached to their name.

Country	Town	Name	Candidate for
Austria	Vienna	Renate Niklas	SC member
Germany	Dresden	Valérie Madoka Naito	SC member
Greece	Kifissia	Theodora-Virginia (Rania) Dalli	SC member
Greece	Skiathos	Thodoris Tzoumas	SC member
Hungary	Budapest	Gábor Móczár	SC member
Italy	Bologna	Melissa La Maida	SC member
Norway	Oslo	Wenche Eriksson	SC member
Romania	Bucharest	Andreea Pop	SC member
Slovenia	Maribor	Lidija Pliberšek	President
Spain	Barcelona	Miquel Trepat Celis	SC member

AGM 2023: Sign up

It's time to sign up for the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2023, taking place in Mantua, Italy, from 21 to 23 September.

About the AGM and Conference 2023

This year's AGM will take place on Thursday, 21 September 2023, in the TEA headquarters (Via Giuseppe Taliercio 3, 46100 Mantua, Italy) and it is intended for ASCE members only.

The Conference will take place on Friday, 22 September 2023, in the MaMu Mantova Multicentre (Largo di Porta Pradella 1b, 46100 Mantua, Italy) on the theme "Cemeteries of the future".

You can find the draft event program HERE.

The selection and booking of accommodation is in one's own domain. Some hotel suggestions can be found HERE.

Sign up

Applications for the AGM and Conference 2023 were possible until 1 August 2023. The sign up form is now closed.

ASCE Conference 2023: Call for papers

Please submit your abstract no later than Friday, 16 June 2023.

Conference theme: Cemeteries of the Future

This year ASCE’s annual conference will focus on the theme Cemeteries of the Future, a challenging subject for all the participants in funerary field. More information about the content and proposed ideas for the authors you may find HERE.

Conference dates and venue

The Conference will take place on Friday, 22 September 2023, in the MaMu Mantova Multicentre (Largo di Porta Pradella 1b, 46100 Mantua, Italy).

Proposals

Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words summarising your intended paper no later than Friday, 16 June 2023, by using the form below.

FORM FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS

Accepted authors will be notified by 30 June 2023.

Conference papers

Papers should last no longer than 20 minutes, excluding questions. The conference language is English. 

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

Editorial board

• Ian Dungavell
• John Moffatt
• Ioanna Paraskevopoulou
• Andreea Pop
• Claudia Tinazzi
• Maria Angela Gelati

Further information

For any questions, please contact andreea@significantcemeteries.org.

Elections call 2023

Call for candidates for Steering Committee and president of ASCE.

4 years have passed since the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ghent in 2019 when the current president and steering committee members were elected to manage our association.

At this year's AGM in Mantua new elections will take place and all members have the right to candidate for steering committee or presidency.

Note: candidacy is possible for ASCE members only!

In order to apply you should follow the next procedure:

Applying for Steering Committee

To apply for the steering committee of ASCE you should fill out the form at this link. Please note that you must keep the format and design. Do not use your own designs or change the font sizes. The form will be presented to all members with voting rights in the same format as it is prepared.

Keep in mind that members of the Steering Committee are expected to fulfill certain obligations that require commitment, self-initiative, and time. Therefore, before applying, please read what your assignments as a Steering Committee member will be:

• regional covering for the SC
• hours and other resources requirements
• reporting about your region
• manage and encourage members of the region to participate
• gather new members / exclude the nonactive ones

Steering Committee limits

According to the ASCE charter, steering committee is limited to 1 representative from each country. In case of more than 1 candidate, delegates of the Assembly can vote only for 1 member.

Applying for president

To apply for president of ASCE you should fill out the form at this link. Please note that there are 3 slides and you may use any format and design. You will have 5 minutes time for presentation to members at the AGM.

Sending your form

You should send your filled out form to secretariat@significantcemeteries.org by June 30, 2023.

AGM 2023: Accommodation in Mantua

Accommodation options for the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2023, taking place in Mantua, Italy, from 21 to 23 September.

Make your reservation

AGM participants will have discounted prices in two hotels in Mantua - the Hotel dei Gonzaga and Ca' Uberti Palace.

Those interested can book their room via email by indicating in the request:

• "Convegno AGM - ASCE" (AGM - ASCE Conference),
• the type of room,
• the number of occupants,
• the dates.

Room types and prices for each hotel can be found HERE.

IMPORTANT: The discounted prices are valid only for reservations made from Monday 20 March to Sunday 30 April 2023!

Hotel dei gonzaga

Piazza Sordello 52, 46100 Mantua
Tel: (+39) 0376 321533
Email: reception3@mantegnahotels.com

Ca' Uberti Palace

Piazza Sordello 13, 46100 Mantua
Tel: (+39) 0376 1410778
Email: reception2@mantegnahotels.com

It is not necessary to book a room in one of the two listed hotels. You can also use booking apps to find some other accommodation options that suit you better.

ASCE Conference 2023: Cemeteries of the Future

This year's Conference will take place on Friday, 22 September, focusing on the theme "Cemeteries of the Future".

Challenges of cemetery management

Even within the more general framework of ongoing climate change, the highly topical issues of environmental sustainability, decreased land consumption, and energy conservation are already having an ongoing impact on the current state of cemeteries throughout Europe that will affect their near future.

Consequently, there are many challenges awaiting cemetery managers. Indeed, companies and public or private entities are being called upon not only to manage in new ways but also to offer their essential services by making choices that increasingly protect the environment, limit land consumption, and work toward generally reducing energy consumption (e.g., using alternative materials for coffins).

Added to this are those recent social changes brought about by various factors—not the least of which is the global economic crisis—that have affected changes in burial practices as well, with the well-recognized increase in cremations, in addition to the emergence of alternative “burial” methods (e.g., scattering ashes, memorial woods).

Cemeteries of the future

How can the cemeteries of today and tomorrow be transformed to meet the challenges mentioned above? How might these challenges affect not just aspects of funeral management but also our ways of developing, promoting, and reporting on cemeteries?

A cemetery is a location dedicated to the memory of the deceased. It may also include solutions made possible by computerized systems and technology (recounting people’s lives, implementing a network for those who do not want to or cannot go physically to the cemetery).

Can cemeteries become new spaces for sharing or support in dealing with bereavement, or as places where people can also just be, looking after themselves by tending spaces, including green spaces, that perhaps result from repurposing unused areas?

Answering these questions and addressing these challenges will require involving diverse professionals, from managers to architects, from anthropologists to landscapers, and from cultural enhancement and communication specialists to engineers.

Call for papers

Details about the proposal requirements and submission deadlines are available HERE.

AGM 2023: Location and program

The draft program of the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2023, taking place from 21 to 23 September in Mantua, Italy.

Dates and locations

This year's AGM will take place on Thursday, 21 September 2023, in the TEA headquarters (Via Giuseppe Taliercio 3, 46100 Mantua, Italy) and it is intended for ASCE members only.

The Conference will take place on Friday, 22 September 2023, in the MaMu Mantova Multicentre (Largo di Porta Pradella 1b, 46100 Mantua, Italy).

Conference theme: "Cemeteries of the Future"

This year's conference will be focusing on environmental sustainability, decreased land consumption, energy conservation, and social changes as some of the challenges that will have a strong impact on cemeteries of the future.

More about the conference theme at this LINK.

AGM and Conference program

Program presented is a draft version.

You can view the details of individual parts of the program by clicking on the part that interests you.

You can click on this link (iCal) to add the program to your personal calendar.

Expand program view

Calendar view

Document view

print

Close

AGM 2023: Save the date

This year's AGM and Conference will take place from 21 to 23 September 2023 in Mantua, Italy.

Each year, the Annual General Meeting attracts over 100 cemetery academics, artists, and professionals from all over Europe. We generate a lot of public attention and through the conference help expose important topics from modern cemetery's management. With this being said, we are glad to announce that the Steering Committee of ASCE decided on the date and location of the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2023.

This year's AGM and Conference will take place from 21 to 23 September 2023 in Mantua, Italy.

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 in September at the AGM 2023.

ASCE presidency

Photo source: Pixabay

Call for hosting AGM 2024 or 2025

Seize the opportunity to become the host of the ASCE Annual General Meeting and Conference and take advantage of the benefits that this position brings to your cemetery and city.

Benefits of hosting AGM

Each year the Annual General Meeting attracts over 100 cemetery academics, artists and professionals from all over Europe. We generate a lot of public attention and through the conference help expose important topics from modern cemeteries management.

Hosting the AGM is a great opportunity especially when it coincides with other relevant events of the city. The main benefits are:

• international exposure through several communication channels of ASCE, especially in professional, diplomatic and academic circles;
• attention of local and regional media due to interesting authors and international attendance;
• networking for local companies allowing to promote their products and services through sponsorship or other inclusions into the conference theme;
• international promotion of local academics and networking with other institutions thus creating new possibilities for joint researches;
• proposing and directing the theme relevant for local cemetery or situation and thus gathering important know-how for solving the situations.

Guidelines and application form

Due to much interest in hosting we have prepared some guidelines for all candidates on how to approach becoming the host.

To apply for hosting the AGM 2024 or 2025, follow the link below:

AGM host application form

*Photo of the Municipal Cemetery of Granada (Granada, Spain).