Cemeteries and Crematoria as public spaces of belonging in Europe: a study of migrant and minority cultural inclusion, exclusion and integration

This project will examine cemeteries and crematoria ‘gardens’ as public spaces of social inclusion, exclusion and integration, with a particular focus on migrant and Established Minority experience, needs and provision, and how these intersect with established practices in the North West of Europe.

Cemeteries are multifunctional public spaces where funerary services are provided; they are ‘sacred’ in the widest sense; they are also seen as ‘green spaces’ and frequently used as public parks by local residents. This means that a wide range of citizensm with their different interests and activities, converge on cemeteries as shared public spaces. In such shared spaces, misunderstanding and conflict can arise over diverse uses and meanings, but on the other hand, communities of shared experience and understanding can be enhanced in such spaces. The use and management of these important but understudied public spaces can tell us much about the everyday lived experiences and negotiations of urban diversity, social inclusion and exclusion in multicultural North West Europe. Improving understanding of varied meanings, uses and practices through dialogue and co-production of management strategies will enhance cross-cultural understanding and interaction, and inform planning for diversity-ready cemeteries.