1.
Erfgoedcel Viersprong - www.erfgoedcelviersprong.be – info@4sprong.be – 09 36 28719
Preserved heritage. Stories , objects andPreserved heritage. Stories , objects and
horticulture for mental health patientshorticulture for mental health patients
Ans Van de Cotte –Erfgoedcel ViersprongAns Van de Cotte –Erfgoedcel Viersprong

2.
Erfgoedcel ViersprongErfgoedcel Viersprong
a regional heritage body near Ghenta regional heritage body near Ghent
Erfgoedcel Viersprong - www.erfgoedcelviersprong.be – info@4sprong.be – 09 36 28719

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Long-term Pilot TrajectorieLong-term Pilot Trajectorie

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Pilot Preserved HeritagePilot Preserved Heritage
Our partners:
- FARO, Flemish interface centre cultural
heritage
- Psychiatric Centre Caritas, Melle (near Ghent)
- Municipality museum Melle (a very small local
museum)
Participants: people with anxiety and mood
disorders (max. 8)

5.
Preserved Heritage in aPreserved Heritage in a schemescheme
- Therapy phase
(+/- 3 months)
- max. 3 weeks
between sessions
Recovery phase
quantitative measurements
qualitative surveys

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Session 1: object handling in museumSession 1: object handling in museum
Participants choose an object in the museum
attic  object handling in group  receive
preserve jar at the end.

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Session 2: Searching an object and storySession 2: Searching an object and story
Participants are coached in storytelling around
an object they possess, find or create (keeping a
dairy, creative work, etc.). A story is broadly
defined (life story, poem, … ).

8.
Session 3: storytelling in a preserve jarSession 3: storytelling in a preserve jar
Participants bring a personal object with a story
 object and story are put in a preserve jar 
everyone can read/listen the stories by means
of augmented reality.

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Session 4: sharing momentsSession 4: sharing moments
In group they place their preserve jars on a plant
cart that stands in a garden which they use daily
for horticulture therapy (permaculture), the
sides and back of the plant cart are vertical
gardens.

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Session 5:Session 5: storytelling in a preserve jar ‘reflection’storytelling in a preserve jar ‘reflection’
Reflection: ‘how is their experience so far?’
‘should they choose the same object/story
now?’
Session 6: storytelling in a preserve jar ‘the future’Session 6: storytelling in a preserve jar ‘the future’
Creation ‘story jar’ (cf. session 3) but an object
and story that reflects their views/expectations
of the future.

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Lesson learned so farLesson learned so far
No one size fits all
It’s about creating personal contacts, every session
is different depending on the group dynamics
Objects are very powerful facilitators for stories
and meaningful conversations: Therapist: “I’ve
heard things from my patients I never heard
before.”

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More information (*in Dutch)More information (*in Dutch)
*Pilot Preserved Heritage: http://bit.ly/2sipUVY
*Selection stories on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-999404333
*Movie about two of our projects, including Preserved
Heritage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=6fd2rUrjAmI
First results published in December 2018

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Thank youThank you
Ans Van de Cotte – coördinator erfgoedcel Viersprong
ans.vandecotte@4sprong.be
www.erfgoedcelviersprong.be