Forwarded to the list
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PRESS RELEASE
Industrial Heritage 2006
First European contact weekend for industrial heritage volunteers and
associations
Beringen, 7 - 8 oktober 2006
In every European country the research in and study, recording,
conservation, development and management, and interpretation of Industrial
and Technical Heritage largely depends on the initiatives and works of
volunteers and volunteer NGOs. Without their efforts numerous important
sites, objects and documents that withness of the birth and growth of our
industrial and technical society would have been lost forever.
But their idealistic and unpaid efforts are often undervalued by authorities
and official institutes
E-FAITH, the European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical
Heritage is a young platform promoting contacts and co-operation between non
profit volunteer associations, the place where those can meet, exchange
experiences, learn from each other and support each other’s activities an
campaigns.
During the weekend of October 7th-8th 2006 E-FAITH is organising it’s first
European industrial and technical heritage contact weekend, where volunteers
from different countries will get together, meet and forge relationships
across borders.
The meeting is not a traditional ‘conference’ or congress.
It is an open meeting where organisations and individuals can present and
compare their ideas, projects and results - and find out where cooperation
or common projects can grow, how they can support the aims of colleagues and
how colleagues can support their objectives. This will be possible by
lectures and oral presentations, leaflets, information stands, posters and
small exhibits. Each participant is allowed to use the presentation
techniques that to him/her seems to be the most appropriate.
This first European Industrial and Technical Heritage Weekend will take
place in and around the unique buildings of the coalmine of Beringen
(Flanders, Belgium) - a splendid industrial archaeological area: actually
the largest mining complex in Europe that is completely protected by law.
The colliery is surrounded by a network of transport infrastructure (coal
harbour and canal, railroads and roads) and a large mining village,
including the houses of miners and engineers, schools, church, a convent,
playing fields (football, tennis), meeting halls, cinema,... all built by
the mining company.
Participants will have the opportunity to visit the mine buildings and the
surroundings.
The fee for the weekend is kept as low as possible to allow even the most
humble associations to take part without charging their limited budgets to
much. So participants pay only a ‘solidarity fee’ of 20 euro p.p. - which
covers the documentation and the coffee breaks.
Special conditions have been negotiated with hotels in the nearby city of
Hasselt, where participants will also have the opportunity to visit the
National Museum of Distilling.
Additional information on the First European Industrial and Technical
Heritage Weekend is soon available and will be regularly updated
- on the website of E-FAITH, www.e-faith.org
- or can be requested by e-mail at [log in to unmask]
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