Athens: lecture by Dr. Julie Rugg about Cemeteries in Western culture

ASCE is helping grow the international scientific cooperation in Europe.

AGM 2017 report

On October 5th, the Annual General Meeting took place at Harokopio University, Athens.

With over 110 participants from 19 countries at the meeting and conference, event was a great success in terms of knowledge and ideas exchanged.

In 3 days we held AGM and conference and experienced the wisdom and art of ancient and modern Greek.

Thanks to presidency, steering committee and exceptional organizational efforts of our host, the Harokopio University, all the participants could have developed new ideas.

AGM was preceeded 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. Steering Committee work

Steering Committee work was presented by Mrs Beatrix Czipetits. Members remarks were taken into account and decisions from steering committee meeting in March were presented.

2. Financial report for 2016

A well balanced finances statement provides secure future for general work of ASCE. Mrs Lidija Pliberšek presented the agreed future presentations of financial statements in form of cash flow statements.

3. New charter registration

Secretary of ASCE, Mrs Metka Debevc, presented the procedure of registration of modified charter which ended in February 2017.

4. Promotion materials and communications

ASCE promotion materials and communications were presented by Mrs Carol Diaz Ortega. Marketing materials which are available to all members on the website were outlined with explanation on best usage practice. A proposal for smaller postcards was presented and in 2018 SC will prepare a smaller version of the postcard.

5. Cooperation of ASCE with other institutions

Mrs Wenche Madsen Eriksson and Mrs Melissa La Maida presented the cooperation of ASCE with other institutions like European institute of Cultural routes, SEFIT or other initiatives that are undergoing in our Association.

6. Global promotion of ASCE

Mr Thodoris Tzoumas presented the presentation letter of ASCE to the ministries of culture in Europe, cemetery day proposal project, and presentation article about ASCE for newspapers and magazines around the world. The article will be available for all members at ASCE webpage.

7. New members and significant cemeteries

New members of ASCE, European Cemeteries route and new significant cemeteries were presented by president Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

8. Memorandum of understanding

A special Signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding between ASCE/UTILITALIA-SEFIT was performed in order to emphasise the importance of cooperation between ASCE and other organisations. Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, president of ASCE and Mr. Michele Gaeta, representative of UTILITALIA-SEFIT signed the Memorandum.

9. Projects and logos usage

Projects and logos usage rules were presented by ASCE administrator Dušan Vrban with outlining of the appropriate use.

10. European Cemeteries Route developmnet

European Cemeteries route progress was presented by ASCE administrator Dušan Vrban. In 2017 the route has grown to over 900 points (monuments descriptions) created in the cemeteries. Many of these points are translations but overall we are noticing a significant growth of itinerary available to the visitors.

The reevaluation report required for certification by the European institute of cultural routes was prepared by the presidency.

Symposium in Ljubljana gained much attention in 2017 and many members proposed such workshops to be continued in future years.

A first European Cemeteries route info point was presented that will be positioned in Maribor in October 2017. The point will allow visitors of Maribor cemeteries to explore European cemeteries route and its members on a touch screen with other information available.

11. Symbols project

Symbols project final results were presented by ASCE administrator Dušan Vrban with emphasis on availability of results for the European Cemeteries route members.

12. Week of Discovering European Cemeteries

Mr Olaf Ihlefeldt presented the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC) activities in 2017 as well as theme and possible activities for 2018. In 2018 activities should support the Year of European Cultural heritage and should take place between May 18 and June 3.

13. Cemeteries entries project

Project Cemeteries entries is developing and Mr Thodoris Tzoumas presented the current situation while encouraging the members who did not do it yet to proceed with installation of the insignia in their cemeteries.

14. Scientific Representative report

Scientific Representative report was presented by Andreea Pop. Prof. J. S. Curl was confirmed by Steering Committee and Scientific committee/board as a non elected advisory to our scientific committee.

Activities for forthcoming 2018 European Year for Cultural Heritage were outlined and a proposal to join the European Heritage Alliance 3.3 - an informal European sectoral platform composed of more than 40 European or international networks and organisations active in the wider field of cultural heritage.

15. Call for AGM hosting

Mr Martin Ernerth presented the Guidelines and benefits for AGM hosting and a call for AGM hosting in 2020 and 2021.

AGM ended with an invitation to AGM 2018 in Innsbruck by Mr Alexander Legnitti.

16. Conclusions

AGM 2017 provided insight into many developments within ASCE in recent years. Projects and our daily work are bringing together many resources on our common quest of preserving and promoting cultural heritage in cemeteries.

An extended and full program of the conference and side events organised by Harokopio University provided many additional insights into history and future of cemeteries and thus helped participants understand a broader picture on possible new strategies.

17. Photo gallery

Photos from the event will be gathered in this album in following days.

AGM 2017: Bus for participants

Bus transport will be organised from hotels to the University for all ASCE participants.

Our host for the AGM 2017, Harokopio University, organised a simple way to get to this year's venue.

A bus for 50 people will transport participants from the locations at following schedule.

Thursday 5th and Friday 6th

07:50 President hotel

08:00 Best Western Ilisia (The residents at  Divani Caravel are welcome to join the bus at  Best Western Ilisia)

08:10 Royal Olympic hotel  (very close to Metro Station Acropolis;  participants who stay elsewhere may join the bus there)

08:15 The Acropolis Kallirhoe

08:30 Harokopio University

The approximate route of the bus can be seen at this link.

Please note that bus will depart at the scheduled times so do not be late if you want arrive to the venue with this bus.

Saturday 7 Oct

A bus offered by the Municipality of Athens will transport participants to the First Cemetery of Athens (Arrival at 9:50 - 10 a.m.).

The bus will follow this schedule:

09:00 Best Western Ilisia (The residents at  Divani Caravel are welcome to join the bus at  Best Western Ilisia)

09:20 Royal Olympic hotel  (very close to Metro Station Acropolis;  participants who stay elsewhere may join the bus there)

9:30 The Acropolis Kallirhoe


The approximate route of the bus can be seen at this link.

After the guided visit the bus is going to transport us at 11:00 to the Acropolis Museum.

AGM 2017: Getting to Harokopio University

Some helpful information to help you get to the AGM 2017 venue.

In order to help you reach the AGM 2017 venue we are providing some further instructions.

You may reach directly Harokopio University (70, El. Venizelou St., Kallithea) by taxi or by public transportation:

• METRO: Station TAVROS- EL. VENIZELOS 
• Line 1.TROLLEY BUSES: Line 1  & Line 5 (Both pass from Syntagma Square). Get off: Karagiannis Stop or Harokopou Stop
• BUS: Number  040 [Athens/ (Departure from Syntagma Square/ Phillelinon St). – Piraeus]. Get off: Harokopou Stop. Note: You may get on Bus 040 also in front of Metro Station “Syngrou/ Fix’’. (see more at: Harokopio University website)

Departure by bus on 5 and 6 October morning for the Harokopio University and on 7 October for the First Cemetery of Athens  from selected hotels (President, Best Western Ilisia, Royal Olympic, Athens Kallirhoe; even if you don’ t stay there, you may easily reach  Royal Olympic by metro station ‘Acropolis’ Line 2)'

AGM 2017: Call for papers

The theme of the ASCE Conference 2026 is “Ancient Greek Art and European Funerary Art”.

The forthcoming Conference and Annual General Meeting, organized by the Harokopio University of Athens, will take place 5-7 October 2017 at the Harokopio University, situated near the centre of Athens and close to many important cultural sites.

Title of the Conference: “Ancient Greek Art and European Funerary Art”.

Ancient Greek art has exerted a considerable influence on European art. Ancient Greek History, Mythology and Culture became a favourite source of inspiration of European art. More precisely, funerary architecture and sculpture were deeply inspired by Ancient Greek art. Athens is the ideal city to examine in situ (in the original place) the close connection between Ancient Greek and European funerary art.

Thematic Axis

The Conference will include the following three thematic axis:

1. Funerary monuments inspired by the Art of the Antiquity.
2. Symbols, motifs and allegories in funerary art.
3. Cultural and educational routes in Cemeteries - Cemeteries and the society.

Abstract Submission and Presentation Guidelines

• The topics of the presentations should be associated with one of the above thematic axis.
• Speakers must present in English, with visuals, a presentation lasting 15 minutes.
• The Conference will also include workshops, cultural events and visits in cemeteries.
• Speakers should forward their abstract (about 300 words) for consideration to the Editorial Board.

Due to limited schedule there will not be able for all the proposed papers to be accepted for presentation. The editorial board will check and select the most representative abstracts and will invite the authors to present their work at the conference. Selected papers, after evaluation, will be included in the Conference Proceedings, which will be available online. Publishing norms will be announced.

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission Deadline: May 15, 2017
• Acceptance of Abstract Deadline: June 01, 2017
• Full paper Submission Deadline: September 01, 2017
• Presentation Submission Deadline: September 20, 2017

Send your abstract to editorial board emails you can find below. Conference Participation fee is 25 euros. If you have any questions, please contact the editorial board.

Editorial Board members

• Ms. Evangelia Georgitsoyanni, Prof. of History of Art and Civilization, Harokopio University of Athens (egeorg@hua.gr)
• Mr. George Kritikos, Assoc. Professor of History, Harokopio University of Athens (gkriti@hua.gr)
• Mr. Thodoris Tzoumas, ASCE Steering Committee Member for Greece (theotzoumas@yahoo.gr)
• Ms. Andreea Pop, Phd Arch., ASCE Scientific Committee Member, Lecturer, Spiru Haret University, Bucharest (arh.andreea.pop@gmail.com)