Cultural memory and literature

A meeting of delegates from European universities taking part in the project on "Cultural memory in European Countries: Difference and Identity in a United Europe" (ACUME) will take place at the University of Malta from May 6 to 9.

This symposium forms part of an original project funded by the European Commission and steered by the University of Bologna under the general direction of Vita Fortunati, Professor of Comparative Literature.

One of the main aims of this project is to investigate cultural memory in the various European nations while exploring the notion of difference and identity in a United Europe. The symposium, which will be addressed by 19 speakers from various European universities and six speakers from the University of Malta, will focus in particular on the theme "Bearing Witness: the literary and documentary expression of cultural identity".

Professor Peter Vassallo, head of the Department of English and director of the Institute of Anglo-Italian Studies at the University, has been appointed convener of the conference and chairman of the organising committee.

In September 2002 he was elected member of the steering committee which is based at the University of Bologna and which monitors and evaluates the various interdisciplinary projects approved by the European Commission.