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About the Center

Uses of the Past Memory and Heritage Research Center

Recent years have experienced a growing scholarly interest in studying uses of the past whether as studies of memory, heritage, narrative, museums, didactics or something else. At the Faculty of Arts we have many research projects and dissemination activities that focus on uses of the past. Scholars from a broad variety of disciplines are in different ways working on the uses of the past. Uses of the past are studied in its many different expressions, in many different places in the world and in different epochs. The research priority area will promote collaboration among these scholars and bring more national and not least international visibility to their results. Aarhus University is already leading nationally when it comes to research, knowledge exchange and teaching within the field of uses of the past. We will also make the university an international hub for the study of uses of the past

The center aims to:

  • Continue to integrate AU faculty members working on uses of the past in different AU departments, especially at the School of Culture and Society (CAS) and the School of Culture and Communication (CC).
  • Showcase AU researchers’ expertise about historical culture, heritage, and memory politics and practices on a national and international scale with a particular focus on the work of junior researchers.
  • Take full advantage of and further expand AU faculty members’ international networks.
  • Supervise, qualify and support the elaboration of applications for external funding within the field.