The project European Memories is pleased to invite all European citizens, women and men of every age and culture to send their stories to the digital archive of European Memories.

Who and how

• All the European citizens are invited to send their story to the archive. Individuals, but also groups, community organizations (schools, associations, government agencies, businesses, etc..) can participate.
• You can tell your stories in first person, through autobiographical writing, photos, narration or video, Or you can gather and tell stories of other people, stories that you consider interesting and useful to others.
• Whether you write in first person or you tell the story of others, you can use the written form (text), or combine writing and photography, audio stories and video. It is also possible to realize studies and research; for example making researchs in the European archives of autobiographical and historical documents.

Kinds and methods of narration

 It is possible to upload into the archive of European Memoriers, stories realized using different methodologies:

• Autobiographical e Biographical narrations;
• Studies and Research

1) Autobiographical e Biographical narrations

Told both directly by the protagonists of the stories or by others, using autobiographical writings, oral narrations, interviews, etc.. A single narrator, a group, or a collective could tell them.
 Works belonging to a "Narration" category may be given expression in different forms of expressions that could be combined to reach an effective communication:

• Autobiographical and biographical writings - texts, both in the form of writings about oneself, or stories of others;
• Photo-narrations - photographic reporting, which may be accompanied by texts: descriptive, autobiographical, poetic, etc.;
• Video-narrations – video-interviews or documentaries, produced both directly by the main characters of the experiences or by others;
• Audio-narrations – audio-stories told through the use of reporting, interviews and oral narrations.
• Other languages - poetry, novel, fiction, illustrated stories, comic strips, or other artistic forms of narration.

2) Studies and research

We want, with this approach, to stimulate groups of European citizens for to realize studies and research about the thematic of the project, through the autobiographical and historical methodologies; especially we wan to stimulate the research in the European archives of autobiographical documents.
 It is possible to use different narrative instruments here as well (text, photos, video, audio) in order to render the research work more expressive and communicative.

Working languages

Stories can be submitted in the following languages: English, Spanish, Catalan, German, French, Danish, Bulgarian, Italian, Portuguese (and Slovenian, in partnership with the project Stories of a Possible Europe).

Methodologies of narration and Formats

The formats follow a criteria of "effective communication". The indications of "maximum length" are not compulsory. More important in this regard is the participants' evaluation of the balance between effective communication and completeness of the narration.

A) Autobiographical and biographical writings - Methodology. The stories told here will be based above all on autobiographical sources; therefore, they will be autobiographical writings or life stories, told by one or more narrators, individuals or communities. Text length: a maximum of 15.000 characters including spaces is advised, which corresponds to about 5 pages (Times New Roman 12, interspaces 1,5) Digital formats: preferably PDF, otherwise ODF (Open Document Format, used by Open Office), and Microsoft Word. Maximum File Size: 10MB

B) Photo Stories Methodology.  In this form of expression, the connection between photo and text is very important. it can be useful to include - if one wishes - autobiographical passages, or literary or poetic texts or whatever else may enrich the narration accompanying the photos and deepen understanding of the experience told. Number of Photos: a maximum of 5 photographs is advised. Digital formats: preferably PDF, otherwise ODF (Open Document Format, used by Open Office) and other formats generated by Open Office formats (such as Impress), Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point. Maximum File Size: 15MB

C) Video Stories - Methodology.  The vast range of technical possibilities now available in the audiovisual field allows participants in this category to use different techniques, while maintaining the narrative style. These techniques can range from a documentary style by using interviews, visual documents and archive footage, to simpler video interviews. Video length: a maximum of 10 minutes is advised. Digital format: preferably Flash (Flv), otherwise it will be possible to upload the video on you tube and link it to the project website.Maximum File Size: 150MB (it will be possible to load longer videos on request).

D) Audio Stories Methodology. The sources to be utilized in this category include interviews and oral narrations, which can be edited together, using audio editing programs which today are easy to access. These narrations are conceived for diffusion by radio, which in many countries still remains the main means of communication. Audio Story Length: a maximum of 10 minutes is advised. Digital format: preferably MP3 format, Real Player format. Maximum File Size: 15MB.     

E) Other Languages - Methodology.  Other forms of expression may include: poetry, narrative, fiction, picture-story, comic strip or other artistic narrative forms. They can be works produced by the protagonists themselves , or by others. In this narrative category the stories are told through other kinds of artistic languages even if they are based on interviews, oral narrations, autobiographical documentation and general information.Digital format and works dimension: for works dealing with texts, images and video, reference can be made to the respective suitable formats shown in the various categories above.     

F) Studies and Research   (Autobiographies and diaries from the European Archives)     Methodology.  This section will include investigative works on the contest themes developed through qualitative methodologies (interviews, life stories, etc.), including studies and research carried out in memory archives and through oral sources. Through this approach, we want to stimulate groups of European citizens to carry out studies and research in the European archives of autobiographical documents. . Text length: a maximum of 45.000 characters, spaces included, is advised, corresponding to about 15 pages (Times New Roman 12, interspaces 1,5). Digital format: preferably PDF, otherwise ODF (Open Document Format, used by Open Office), Microsoft Word. Maximum File Size: 15 MBIt is possible in this kind of work to use different narrative means (text, photos, video, audio) in order to render the research work more expressive and communicative.

How to send the stories

How to participate to the activities