GENIUS LOCI is an EU co-funded project.

Its purpose is to draw attention to the heritage of small-scale industrial enterprises, to (re)valuate their heritage significance and to increase understanding and appreciation by tourists and the general public.

Project partners are based in Italy, Spain, Hungary, Malta and Belgium, while E-FAITH (European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage) is offering its expertise and network to the project.

The following sectors have been identified as priorities for the first phase of the project:

• The traditional fermented drinks industry (beer, wine, cider,…) and the process of distilling strong spirits from these
• Clay processing industries (bricks, tiles, roof tiles – but also refractory bricks, pottery, drainage pipes, majolica,…)
• Traditional textile crafts (weaving,..) and the production of traditional European textile fibres (e.g. flax, hemp)

We are now developing a database of historic sites, museums and collections, traditional craft workshops and enterprises, and also of the intangible heritage linked to these (such as individuals or organisations who provide training or other sources of knowledge and skills associated with traditional industries, keeping traditions alive to be passed on to future generations).

A selection of these sites will be awarded a free European “Industriana” industrial and technical heritage ‘label’ ( see //industriana.eu/ ) Thus the site will be included in the Industriana app and the maps connected with this project. It will enable visitors to access information about the site and its history when using their smartphone.or via the Industriana website.

If you would like to obtain an Industriana label for your site, museum or heritage initiative, please complete the questionnaire [ found at the bottom of this page: //www.heritageportal.eu/News-Events/Latest-News/Genius-Loci-Industrial-Heritage-Project.18535.shortcut.html ] and return it as soon as possible.

If you know of any site or organisation that qualifies for inclusion in the network, please forward this questionnaire and encourage them to fill it in and return it.

Completed questionnaires and images should be returned to:
Genius_loci@e-faith.org
p/a European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage
Vredelaan 72 B-8500 Kortrijk (Belgium)

A selection of sites will be contacted in due course and requested to provide more detailed information and about initiatives to enhance the industrial, cultural and natural heritage in their neighbourhood.

Kate Dickson, E-FAITH liaison officer