Plants and culture: seeds of the cultural heritage of Europe

Prosjekt: Plants and culture: seeds of the cultural heritage of Europe 

The project aims to recover and promote green cultural heritage common to Europe in 2008, European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (decision n. 1983/2006/EC). The main ideas guiding this project are the improvement and dissemination of knowledge of the different botanical cultures in the history of European countries, and the safeguarding of their common cultural heritage (as per Article 151 of the Treaty).

The project covers themes considered by the European Community to be priority issues:
Intercultural Dialogue - Plant Biodiversity - Cultural Landscape  

In its research and popularization activities, the PaCE project focuses mainly on the links between plants and culture. It draws on an innovative partnership among universities, museums, archaeologists, botanists and zoologists from European countries (Italy, Spain, Poland and Norway as partners, supporting museums from Hungary, Greece, Romania, France and San Marino). The PaCE's European work group will present scientific knowledge on the significance of plants in human life in Europe. They will trace the history of selected European plants, represented overall by the box (Buxus), an evergreen present in all cultures, a symbol of life for the Ancient Greeks and a plant of peace in northern European traditions.

PaCE will satisfy the intercultural aspect by staging a trans-European exhibition based heavily on the partners' up-to-date scientific research. The exhibition will coincide with important local cultural anniversaries in the partner countries, such as 250 years of the Botanical Garden of Modena, founded by the Duke of Este (Italy), and 750 years of the city of Krakow (Poland).

Europeiske partnere:

• Dept. Museum of Palaeobotany and Botanic Garden – University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT) (Leder)
• De natur- og kulturhistoriske samlinger (inkl. Det norske arboret og Botanisk hage) (Bergen Museum)  – Universitetet i Bergen (NO)
• European University Centre for Cultural Heritage – Villa Rufolo, Ravello (IT)
• Institute of Botany – Jagiellonian University of Krakow (PL)
• Dept. of Plant Biology – University ‘La Sapienza’ of Rome (IT)

Varighet: 2007-2009

Tilskudd fra EUs kulturprogram: EUR 190 000 (Ca. 1,5 millioner kroner)