Insights from the Certification Training Seminar in Luxembourg

ASCE president, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, unveiled the organizational journey of ASCE and European Cemeteries Route.

About the seminar

On Friday, June 30th, 2023, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, president of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), participated as a guest speaker in the Training Seminar for candidate routes applying for the "Cultural Route of the Council of Europe" certification held by the European Institute of Cultural Routes. This seminar served as a platform to introduce aspiring networks to the practical aspects of Cultural Routes, providing valuable support on their path towards certification within the 2023-2024 Certification Cycle.

Joining online, Mrs. Pliberšek eloquently bridged theory and practice, sharing valuable insights into operations of a certified Cultural Route. Shedding light on the European Cemeteries Route, showcasing its members, thematic focus, projects, and the countries involved, Mrs. Pliberšek discussed the challenges encountered, offering guidance, and highlighting the incredible opportunities that lie ahead for aspiring Cultural Route networks.

Role of ASCE and European Cemeteries Route

Participation in this seminar has served as an opportunity to reflect both on our work as representatives of cultural heritage of cemeteries across Europe, as much as our contribution to the development and growth of candidate networks, building an engaging and vibrant community of Cultural Routes. Through the European Cemeteries Route, ASCE continues to inspire and guide the dynamic community of certified Cultural Routes in Europe, facilitating cooperation, preserving heritage, and promoting sustainable cultural tourism throughout Europe.

European Cemeteries Route successfully evaluated as a Cultural Route

To retain the label of a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, European Cemeteries Route has been evaluated in the framework of a three-year evaluation-cycle by European Institute of Cultural Routes.

About European Cemeteries Route

European Cemeteries Route is a project established by ASCE in 2010. It refers to cemeteries as places of life, settings that, as urban spaces, are directly linked to the history and culture of the community they belong to and where we will find many of our references.

Members of the route organize guided tours, events and other activities at the cemeteries, with the aim of informing visitors and making them aware of the important cultural heritage reflected in cemeteries.

European Cemeteries Route as a Cultural Route

European Cemeteries Route has been a certified "Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” since 2010.

Every three years, the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) meets to renew this certification to networks, such as the European Cemeteries Route.

The final step of this year's thorough, more than 6-month long evaluation process took place on 5 and 6 May 2022, in Luxembourg, where European Cemeteries Route successfully passed the evaluation and, by meeting all the required criteria, obtained the right to further use the label Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.

You can find the details about the evaluation process HERE.

Importance of the regular evaluation process

Throughout the last ten years, European Cemeteries Route has been evaluated 3 times. Always with success and observed as one of the routes that performs really well.

In many ways it may be seen as leading developer for the sector of cultural tourism.Yet again each time it went through the evaluation process, we have learned that there are possible improvements and unexploited potentials, such us:

• improvements in our work,
• improvements in the government networking,
• improvements in the research and cooperation with the academic sector,
• possibilities in cultural crossroads concept.

You can find more about the improvements and plans that European Cemeteries Route will work on in the future HERE.

Steering Committee meeting 2022

On 4th and 5th May 2022 the second part of the first ASCE Steering Committee meeting of the year took place in Neimënster, Luxembourg.

Meeting agenda and main outcomes

• Financial situation: Steering Committee took note and confirmed the balance sheet for the year 2021.
• Membership work: The Presidency presented the new reports system that shows the current status of the membership and will become a valuable tool for the future management of membership
• New members:Steering Committee confirmed new members to the association:
• La Maquinilla Association - Saint George`s Cemetery (including the French cemetery), Peñarroya-Pueblonuevo (Córdoba), Spain
• Alma Finalis APS, Finale Emilia - Italy
• Diplomatic Governing Board of the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery of Istanbul, Istanbul - Turkey

• AGM 2022 and 2023: The Steering Committee checked and discussed the AGM 2022 program and conference theme. A call for AGM 2023 will be released in May 2022.
• European Cemeteries Route reevaluation: A very good assessment report of the European Cemeteries Route was presented to the SC members. Report was created by the Institute of the cultural routes as part of a regular 3-years reevaluation.
• Cultural routes cooperation and Training Academy: The 9th Training Academy for Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe will be held from 31st May to 3rd June 2022 in Fontainebleau (France). The SC board decided that 2 ASCE representatives will join the academy: Andreea Pop and Ioanna Paraskevopoulou.

Conclusions

Altogether, the meeting was successful and very productive. In addition to addressing the above points, the SC members set clear plans for the work of the association in the future. Details of the individual topics discussed at the meeting will follow in future communications.