Smell, a potent yet often overlooked element of human experience, has profoundly shaped society. From religious rituals to everyday life, historical scents tell intricate stories. But with little ability to record them, these olfactory narratives have been lost over the last few centuries. The EU-funded project ODEUROPA explored the significance of scent in Europe’s cultural heritage.
Ancient inscriptions can teach us a lot about past civilisations. The problem is that these inscriptions are often illegible, or their place of origin is unknown. To help, the EU-funded PythiaPlus project developed an AI-based tool that historians can use to restore missing text, and establish an inscription’s original date and place of writing.
The sociopolitical role that everyday photography plays is significant but under-investigated. The PHOTODEMOS project conducted ethnographic research across nine countries to investigate similarities and differences in how ordinary people use cameras. Its findings identify how images both inspire and empower citizens to reimagine their circumstances and explore alternative futures.
The EU-funded TRACTION project has turned to co-creation and technology to make opera more inclusive, engaging a variety of communities from low-income neighbourhoods to prisons. The results are dynamic new operas that represent a more inclusive Europe.
Art in the age of digital reproduction is under threat from inadequate contracts, piracy, generative AI and limits on access. In the EU-funded reCreating Europe project, researchers, libraries, copyright experts and other stakeholders sought ways to secure culturally diverse production of art, as well as inclusive access for consumers. The results can help Europe maintain its position as a cultural and economic powerhouse in the creative industries.
Migrants and fragile communities often feel ostracised from the societies in which they live. The EU-funded MEMEX project helped communities at risk of sociocultural exclusion tell their stories through augmented reality. Similar projects could help social integration across Europe.
Many heritage crafts are at risk of being lost to time as they are practised less. To preserve them, the EU-funded Mingei project digitised their creative processes and the final products. As well as safeguarding European culture, the project could boost local tourism.
European national histories are often taught as isolated narratives that emphasise conflict rather than cooperation. But recently, EU-funded researchers used historical exhibitions and digital technologies to remind Europeans just how much history and culture they share. A custom-designed Android app, for example, now helps visitors explore London's National Gallery.
The recognition of pottery types from their fragments is key to dating and understanding the context of archaeological sites. A new app developed thanks to EU-funded research will greatly facilitate this process for archaeologists.
How do you build a common future from a legacy of conflict? Determination goes a long way, as the history of the EU shows – but building bridges is not easy. EU-funded researchers are analysing collective memories of past strife that still affects community relations today, in a bid to help advance European integration.
