The aim of the cultural heritage year is to share our common European cultural past and its potential of identification, participation and progress in a heterogenous European society facing political, social and economic challenges. In this context, the architectural and structural heritage will be of major interest. Building culture offers many starting points for an active debate on Europe’s historic roots and common future. Historical remnants in the landscape, archaeological traces of settlements, abandoned suburbs and changing faces of cities do all fascinate youths: here the roots of the cultural heritage can be witnessed and open limitless opportunities of imagination and action. Students from Prague, Avelino and Lappersdorf will search for such cultural traces. They will focus on places that should be preserved. Places of remembrance which have a regional significance or whose demolition or reutilisation is considered. The students will act as kind of ´godfathers` for these local, archaeological sites, which they investigate about and reflect on. For a set time period the sites should be places of most diverse school activities. Scenographic design, Street Art, lighting events, guided tours, presentations, music and dance or a common dinner are all ideas that can be implemented to find ways of discovering and interacting with the historical site. Through this temporary ´occupation` the lost site will return into public perception and formerly unknown ways of usage might be identified. Furthermore, through these projects not only students, but also other people might realize the value of commitment and creativity in public spaces. Interesting and relevant European traces can be found at archaeological sites, abandoned villages, industrial ruins, unused military camps, former Nazi buildings, ports and train stations or ancient agricultural buildings. A necessary precondition for the choice of a certain site is the fact that it can be linked with European history and other European regions or places. As far as our specific background in Regensburg is concerned we have so far signalled closer interest in the so-called Kreuzhofgelände, a site where, in the Middle Ages, two armies met for the crusade into the Holy Land – a topic we could take up with the students in Prague and Campania as well. While analysing this historical period the students could retrace the trade and transport routes that were of importance in all our regions since Roman times. Particularly the exchange of goods and troops on the Benevent – Salerno – Regensburg – Prague trail might arouse further interest. Moreover, an intensive architectural investigation of the Regensburger Dom could also be worthwhile, as its architectural characteristics naturally reflect the zeitgeist of its historical period. This could be compared to the contemporary thoughts and techniques used while constructing the cathedrals in Avelino and Prague centuries later. Another possible topic could be the examination of buildings used during the Great War. In Prague, for example, the administration is considering finding innovative ways to use an ailing military hospital, which dates from this period. The same historic epoch could be rediscovered in Regensburg and Campania, if you examine prisoner of war-camps in Stadtamhof (a district of Regensburg) or centres of recruitment and military training in central Italy. However, the final decision which project will eventually be dealt with lies within the hands of the students. They themselves, as is usual procedure concerning project work, should agree on a topic they are most interested in. Thereby a thorough, constant motivation and ambition will be guaranteed and a long-lasting effect will hopefully go along with it. Eight students of each school (four female, four male) as well as at least four teachers who have all had experiences in international cultural exchange programmes will take part in the project. We will only choose those students for the project who explicitly expressed their faith in the future of a common European identity in their letter of motivation and who we regard as excellent, sustainable representatives of a united Europe.
The cultural heritage year 2018 witnesses a massive change in Europe. Considering the current developments, the questions of a common European identity, a common European culture and a common European heritage have to be raised again. The aim of the European cultural heritage year is to share our cultural heritage and its potential of identification, participation and progress on the basis of a heterogeneous European society and in the face of recent political, social and economic challenges. In our context, the architectural and structural heritage was of major interest. Building culture offers many starting points for an active debate on Europe’s historic roots and common future. As the young generation is expected to shape this future, we intended to convince and inspire them as active multipliers of a common European citizenship. In our eyes, historical remnants and changing faces of buildings and cities do both fascinate youths: here the roots of the cultural heritage can be witnessed and open limitless opportunities of imagination and action. With these thoughts in mind, the Gymnasium Lappersdorf, the Deutsche Schule Prag and the Liceo Scientif. ‘P.S. Mancini’ Avellino agreed on examining cultural ‘lost traces’ in Regensburg, Prague and Avellino. The focus of our interest was to find places which should be preserved, places of regional identiy or places whose demolition is discussed publicly. During the project in Regensburg the former abbey St. Emmeram was in the centre of attention. It met the criteria as mentioned above in several ways. On the one hand, the story of the site reflects insights into 1500 years of Bavarian and European history as it served as one of the most renowned places of spiritual and cultural knowledge in central Europe for a long time. On the other hand, it has fallen behind today, as tourists and local residents cannot be easily directed to this place off the beaten tracks. Its forecourt only points to the ‘Schloss Thurn und Taxis’ next to the abbey. The church behind appears as a ‘lost place’ considering the fact that even waste containers sometimes bar your way towards it. That was the reason why some of our students used parking spaces to establish a café-like meeting point in the forecourt and built up a signpost directing to the abbey. So more than 300 guests could be attracted to watch our project’s presentations and experience the beauty of the abbey and its church. The responsible town council unit is now contemplating a new concept regarding the future of ‘Emmeramsplatz’. A great success for our students! In Prague the students ‘occupied’ the former tank and truck factory Pragovka for the duration of the project. This highly thrilling place that opens up many facets of German-Czech as well as European history is again situated off the beaten tourist tracks and therefore was easily put in the spotlight during the workshop. The audience, directed to the performances by signs and flyers, that witnessed the theatrical and artistic results of the workshops was delighted. The former factory turned out to be a perfect ‘mystic’ background for the presentations. Especially the movie about the site’s past and present was regarded as an impressive work of art and therefore a great success.This project, like the one in Regensburg, effected a deeper consideration of the building’s future, and a possible usage as a place for artistic and creative minds. In Avellino the Chiesa di Monserrato was in the focus. For this workshop the Italian hosts had recruited various artists to support our group. They led the workshops and instructed the participants in illuminating the church, sound design, improvisation theatre and choral singing. The interest of the local population was amazing, as hundreds of curious citizens wanted to see this unique place reopened and seized by creative youths. Even the bishop and the mayor appeared, enjoyed the performances and promised to plan further creative usage of the church. Not only our students learned during the project that they can make a difference and have an influence on how things develop, also people in the audience realised that they could affect the society. They were shown that there indeed is a value of public engagement and visionary creativity. The long-term effect of the single projects illustrates that clearly. At all sites creative confrontation with the ‘lost place’ resulted in a future perspective. The teaching method ‘service learning’ was applied to develop all the project’s results. Of each school twelve students as well as at least four teachers, who had all already gained experience in international student exchange and cultural exchange institutions independently before, took part in the project. In all schools, students who showed a high motivation and a deep interest in invigorating and spreading the European idea were chosen for the project. The project’s process and all its results can be found at echy.gymlap.de