Virtual Colloquium on burial, cremation and alkaline hydrolysis

A free virtual colloquium, organised by the Cemetery Research Group, will take place on 17th November 2023 via zoom. Booking required.

About the event

On Friday, 17th November 2023, a virtual colloquium under the organisation of the Cemetery Research Group will take place via the zoom platform. 

Speakers from around the globe and from multiple disciplines will be discussing burial, cremation, and alkaline hydrolysis. The guest speaker will be Dr Brenda Mathijssen from the University of Groningen with her presentation "True nature burial: Unearthing the politics of defining an emerging death practice in The Netherlands".

The full programme with the list of speakers and their topics is available HERE.

Registration details

Attendance at this virtual colloquium is free of charge, but booking is required to secure your spot and receive Zoom invitations to the sessions you wish to attend.

To register, please complete the booking form HERE. Deadline for booking is 10th November 2023.

For any questions, please contact julierugg36@gmail.com.

An international conference in Turin

Join the international conference "Around Cemeteries: a space of dialogue across generations and cultures" on 30 and 31 May 2023. Online participation is possible.

About the event

On 30 and 31 May 2023, an international conference will take place in Turin, Italy, on the theme "Around Cemeteries: a space of dialogue across generations and cultures".

National and international speakers (Italian, English, and French) will underline through their presentations how the tangible and intangible heritage of cemeteries, in terms of narratives, representations and metaphors, can be a stimulus to encourage contacts within generations and cultures.

The event will be streamed live and you can attend it via the link https://unito.webex.com/unito/j.php?MTID=mbf61608a50fb103e27d5cd9108c2f321.

Participation is free.

EVENT PROGRAM (in English)
EVENT PROGRAM (in Italian)

ASCE Conference 2021: Program

Find out who are the experts that will be lecturing at the ASCE conference 2021 and what are they going to talk about.

About the ASCE Conference 2021

The ASCE Conference 2021 is being organized by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust for the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe, and will take place in an online form via ZOOM on 11 and 12 November 2021. The main theme is "Cemetourism: Cemeteries with Stories to Tell".

Furthermore, this year's Conference will be an extension of the AGM 2021, and will therefore address the basic definition of significant cemeteries as well as the possible methods of categorizing cemeteries as significant. 

Conference speakers

Conference speakers will include many acknowledged experts from all over Europe who will speak on the topic of Cemetourism. Some of them are:

➤ Professor Tijana Borić (University of Niš, Serbia)
"Old Cemetery in Rajacke Pimnice – A Highlight of a Unique Travel Destination"

➤ Domenico Bruno (Arciconfrternita S. Maria del Popolo agli Incurabili, Italy)
"Development of the cemetery tourism and history of the 366 graves cemetery in Naples"

➤ Malcolm Crampton (Jigsaw Design & Publishing, UK)
"Every visitor needs a good guidebook"

➤ Tamara Ingels (Independent consultant, Belgium)
"The dynamics between the primary, secondary and tertiary functions of cemeteries"

➤ Dr Barbara Leisner (Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany)
"Museums on Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg"

➤ Renate Niklas (General Manager Friedhöfe Wien GmbH, Austria)
"Cemeteries are full of life....in Vienna"

➤ Mahmut Okcesiz (Ottoman Gravestones Expert, Turkey)
"Understanding and Promoting Adalizade Historic Cemetery"

➤ Dr Mari Plikuhn (University of Evansville, United States)
"Memento Mori: The Importance of Historic Cemeteries in Death (and) Education"

➤ Dr Julie Rugg (University of York, UK)
"Cemetery tourism vs funerary heritage tourism? Achieving a balance"

➤ Aude Thevenon (Patrimoine Aurhalpin, France)
"The "Printemps des cimetières", a national event dedicated to the promotion of funerary heritage."

➤ Dr Paul Tourle (Barker Langham, UK)
"Possible Worlds: Brookwood Cemetery and the Interpretation of Memorial Landscapes"

➤ Miquel Trepat Celis (General Manager of Cementiris in Barcelona, Spain)
"Reconciling tourism with burial activities?"

and many more!

Short summaries of the lectures will be published regularly on the ASCE Facebook page, so don't forget to follow us.

Join us at the conference

Given the extremely interesting lectures and excellent speakers, no one with an interest in historic cemeteries should miss this conference. 

You can find the registration form HERE.

The general admission for the two days Conference is 25,00 EUR.

If you have any questions, please contact us at admin@significantcemeteries.org.

ASCE Conference 2021: What makes a cemetery significant?

The latest proposals in this area, that were also discussed at the AGM 2021, will now be presented at this year's ASCE Conference.

Extension of the AGM 2021

The ASCE Conference 2021, which this year exceptionally takes place separately from the Annual General Meeting, is being organized by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust for the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe, and will take place in an online form via ZOOM on 11 and 12 November 2021. Nevertheless, we wanted to maintain the connection between the two events. Therefore, this year's Conference will be an extension of the AGM, and will address many topics which were previously discussed at the meeting. The basic definition of significant cemeteries will be at the forefront. 

What makes a cemetery significant?

This is the question that has been rising over and over again since the very founding of ASCE. Over the past 20 years, we have been trying to find and improve an effective method of categorizing cemeteries into this important group. The latest proposals in this area, that were presented at this year's AGM, will now be presented also at the ASCE Conference.

Mr. Ian Dungavell (delegated and scientific representative of ASCE and organizer of this year's ASCE Conference) will have an extremely interesting and instructive lecture in which he will answer the important questions about what makes a cemetery significant. Is this its size, history, artistic and architectural value, the important personalities buried there or something completely different? 

Let's find out together. Join the discussion and tell us what your opinion is.

How to register for the Conference?

You can find the registration form HERE.

The general admission for the two days Conference is 25,00 EUR.

ASCE members will get a special promo code via email with all the information on how to use it to get a 10,00 EUR discount upon registration. If you are an ASCE member and did not receive the promotional email by Friday, October 8, 2021, please contact us at admin@significantcemeteries.org.

ASCE Conference 2021: It's time to sign up!

Acknowledged cemetery experts discussing "Cemetourism: Cemeteries with Stories to Tell". Join us at the ASCE Conference 2021.

Conference dates and venue

After the excellent ASCE Annual General Meeting, which took place from 16-18 September 2021 in Budapest, Hungary, another great event is approaching. The ASCE Conference 2021, which this year exceptionally takes place separately from the meeting, is being organized by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust for the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe, and will take place in an online form via ZOOM. When?

On Thursday 11 and Friday 12 November 2021.

• 9am-2pm UK time
• 10:00 - 15:00 UTC +1 (most of Europe)
• 11:00-16:00 UTC+2 (Athens, Bucharest)

Cemetourism: Cemeteries with Stories to Tell

This year's Conference will be especially interesting, taking a practical rather than historical approach to significant cemeteries. The main theme is Cemetourism, and many acknowledged cemetery experts will be speaking about: 

• Understanding the cultural significance of cemeteries.
• Developing the unique story of your cemetery.
• Wayfinding: helping visitors navigate to the parts that matter.
• Cemetery museums: complementing the outdoor experience.
• Cultural programming in cemeteries.
• Working with tourism promotion agencies.
• Reconciling tourism with burial activities.
• And so much more.

The event will also be an extension of the AGM 2021 and will therefore address many topics which were previously discussed at the meeting. A great opportunity for all the ASCE members that were unable to come to Budapest, and for all the others who have an interest in significant cemeteries.

How to register?

You can find the registration form HERE.

The general admission for the two days Conference is 25,00 EUR.

ASCE members will get a special promo code via email with all the information on how to use it to get a 10,00 EUR discount upon registration. If you are an ASCE member and will not receive the promotional email by Friday, October 8, 2021, please contact us at admin@significantcemeteries.org.

WDEC 2021: "The enhancement of cemeteries in Italy and Europe as places dedicated to collective memory"

On the occasion of the WDEC 2021, The Monumental Cemetery of Turin has organized a new online conference.

About the conference

The online conference entitled "The enhancement of cemeteries in Italy and Europe as places dedicated to collective memory" will take place on May 31st, 2021 at 5.30 pm (local time in Italy).

You can watch the streaming on the Webex platform at this LINK.

Possible password required: CONFERENCE

Conference program

Introduction:

Prof. Marco DEVECCHI - President of the Commission for the quality of the cemetery works of the City of Turin

Greetings:

• Dott. Marco Giusta - Councilor with responsibility for the cemeteries of the City of Turin
• Prof. Serge NOIRET - President of AIPH Italian Association of Public History

Speakers:

• Renata SANTORO - Coordinator Technical Table for the historical-artistic enhancement of the Italian cemeteries of Utilitalia-SEFIT
• Chiara OTTAVIANO - President of Cliomedia Public History
• Melissa LAMAIDA - Vice President of ASCE
• Paola REDEMAGNI - author of "Una prece, una lacrima"

Waiting for you to join us!