ConnectLAA – 3rd General Meeting
On 15–16 April 2026, the General Meeting of participants in the project “Connecting Landscape Architecture Archives to Enhance European Practice, Research and Education (ConnectLAA)” will take place in Liverpool, within the framework of the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) programme. The Eduard Petzold Foundation will be represented by its Vice Chair, Jacek Kuśmierski. The meeting will be hosted by the University of Liverpool, with sessions held at the School of Architecture.
The first day of the meeting will be devoted to intensive workshop activities and plenary sessions focusing on the use of landscape architecture archives in professional practice, research, and education. The programme will include, among others: an opening session and project introduction, an archival visit within Working Group 2 (WG2), workshops dedicated to best practices in the use of archives in landscape design, a discussion on research gaps and contributions to the project report, and a joint workshop “Tips on Storytelling” led by Beth Daley from the Europeana Foundation.
A highlight of the programme will be an interactive session dedicated to storytelling in the cultural heritage sector. Participants will explore methods of effective storytelling and learn how to use Europeana’s digital resources to disseminate knowledge and engage audiences. Afternoon plenary sessions will include presentations of STSM projects and Wikiton-type initiatives, as well as a summary of the day and discussion on future directions of collaboration. Parallel activities will include visits to the University’s Special Collections and Archives.
The day will conclude with a PhD and Early Career Researcher (ECR) roundtable titled “Expanding Agency through Archives”, focusing on the role of archives in developing new research perspectives.
The second day of the meeting will focus on strengthening research competences through engagement with archival materials. The programme will include a joint workshop of WG2 and WG3 on building research capacity through archival engagement, as well as a concluding session and presentation of future plans within the ConnectLAA project.
The participation of the Foundation’s representative in the meeting constitutes an important element of international cooperation aimed at advancing research in landscape architecture and strengthening the role of archives as a key resource for knowledge and inspiration in contemporary design practice.