European Cemeteries Route project Schools on cemeteries received the Cultural Routes Best Practice Award by the Secretariat of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA).

About the award

The call for the “Cultural Routes Best Practices Award” was launched in 2022 by the Secretariat of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) in order to give recognition to best practices implemented by the certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

A jury composed by the EPA member States representatives was in charge of selecting the most outstanding good practices implemented by Cultural Routes, which received the Cultural Routes Best Practices Award during the Annual Advisory Forum in Chania, Greece.

In line with this year’s main theme, “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: Safeguarding European Values, Heritage, and Dialogue”, the 2022 edition of the Forum was drawing attention to the priority fields of action of the programme, underlining the growing relevance of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe methodology and practices in promoting Europe’s shared cultural heritage and intercultural dialogue while fostering sustainable local development.

Schools on cemeteries

For years European Cemeteries Route members are developing the project Schools on cemeteries. Cultural days, guided tours, mobile apps games, school theater, research and artistic projects with young Europeans from primary schools to faculties are emerging across European cemeteries as part of this ongoing effort.

Why schools?

Schools require various cultural programmes to help youth learn about the society and culture. And cemeteries can offer an unexpected yet powerful experience.

Future of cemeteries depends on the attitude that these children will develop. Experiencing cemeteries as cultural heritage of their city may change their perspective and they will be more keen to support the preservation and other relevant projects.

What's next?

The award is an important acknowledgement of the significance of our project. Thus it will be further promoted and developed by the route management.

All members are invited to take a closer look at the posted examples and especially the official model of the programme of the project.