The document describes a project called the Virtual School Art Department's Culture Box. Students from different countries submitted artworks and supporting text that were exhibited electronically on the website. The artworks served as "time capsules" that conveyed personal interests, friends, dreams and more. Hundreds of submissions were received from students in countries like Brazil, Romania, the US, Russia, Sweden, Finland and the UK.

2. ‘ In the ‘Virtual School’ one of the projects of the European Schoolnet, teams of teachers from different countries are creating and collecting different kinds of learning resources. The Virtual School Art Department has set up a range of projects. One of these was Culture Box in which young artists shared artworks about themselves by way of a virtual gallery situated on the website. The culture boxes were described as ‘time capsules’ that might include ambitions, interests, friends, places, dreams…. Hundreds of Culture box artwork and supporting text were submitted and exhibited electronically by artists of all ages from countries including Brazil, Romania,USA, Russia and Sweden, Finland and UK’. Pete Worrall

6. I have produced a home page for a web site based on Culture Box. In my design the circuit board, acts as a link to the next page. Jason - PGCE trainee, Institute of Art and Design, University of Central England in Birmingham, UK

7. My four chosen cultural fragments consisted of a beer mat, a pair of ballet shoes, a Robbie Williams CD and a map of Israel. As a whole these artefacts signify my interests in music, dance, socialising and travel, and represent some of the most enjoyable periods and activities in my life. The images represent my own personal 'culture box' and they portray feelings and pleasures. Helen - PGCE trainee, Institute of Art and Design, University of Central England in Birmingham, UK

8. The cultural fragments I chose were images of delicious Asian food, the interior of Lahore Forte, which I visited three years ago, some text written in Urdu and some Asian jewellery. All these have meanings and some have special memories for me. Nazia - PGCE trainee, Institute of Art and Design, University of Central England in Birmingham, UK

9. The cultural fragments I chose to bring in were all related to cultural and social issues. I have concentrated on the idea that our culture is consumer based, and money oriented. My chosen fragments relate to money, and greed, and the bottles are intended to signify man, the human race. The grid / wire mesh overlaying the piece represents the idea of being trapped, restrained by the system. The final image of my eyes has been included in order to add a personal, direct and confrontational element to the work. Rather than giving a direct meaning to the piece the title 'Empty Vessels' is supposed to be suggestive, inviting an individual response. Nicola - PGCE trainee, Institute of Art and Design, University of Central England in Birmingham, UK

10. My 'Culture Box' is a collection of items which are significant to me . These consist of my Bible, my Russian doll from when I was little, a peg doll I made when I was five years old, a picture of me and my boyfriend, and a bracelet that was my sisters before she died. My 'Cultural Box ' is a collection of important memories significant to me, memories locked in my head, in my personal box. Some memories fade, so some images are transparent in quality some more sharp or colourful – all overlayed. One of my final pieces shows my items in a bubble like a time capsule. Fiona - PGCE trainee, Institute of Art and Design, University of Central England in Birmingham, UK -

11. ‘ The woven pieces are made on a two-shafted handloom. The weft in the blue warp is made of birch twigs, one of the most common tree species in our surroundings. I pick them as winter gives away to spring, before leafing. The weft in the red warp is made of straws of rye, cultivated by my father-in-law in a field next to our school. The warp can contain almost anything out of one´s life: It´s the web of opportunities! Maria - textile / craft teacher from Sweden.

12. “ Money Money Money” (acrylic on card relief, with monopoly money) My piece is adapted from Pablo Picasso’s Style. I used his cubist style in painting and in his sculpture to achieve my final piece. The final piece represents me as the background as it is monopoly money and monopoly is my favourite board game. Student age 15, Birmingham UK

13. ‘ My artwork (made using Photoshop) shows a picture of smooth fantastic Nature. Moving up wave which is from the horizon is getting me any dreams and concerns on the Future. Living in the beautiful world we should remember constantly that we all live only one time in this world. We should save (concern) not only our personal life and also save the Nature which is our Mother. Save the Nature, she is our Mother!’ Pupil aged 14, Urals in Russia.

14. Every silent breath of an apparently quiet nature is filled with the deepest sense of life. The same guarding force is present everywhere, in every movement and every rustle of a wild nature and at the same time in ourselves, in the shape of a restless eye - the eternal witness of things done but never spoken.No one escapes its piercing look. We are all constantly being watched by something or someone above our reach and understanding and our darkest thoughts and most sinful deeds are easily revealed to a mysterious, restless eye. Every silent breath of an apparently quiet nature is filled with the deepest sense of life. The same guarding force is present everywhere, in every movement and every rustle of a wild nature and at the same time in ourselves, in the shape of a restless eye - the eternal witness of things done but never spoken. No one escapes its piercing look. We are all constantly being watched by something or someone above our reach and understanding and our darkest thoughts and most sinful deeds are easily revealed to a mysterious, restless eye. Student aged 17, Romania revealed to a mysterious, restless eye.

15. ‘ I have made this plastic composition because I love the richness of this season. The weaver autumn has embroidered the whole nature in a beautiful cover of copper leaves. The trees suffer because they have no leaves. However I have made a picture with the two queens of this beautiful autumn. Their eyes watch the sadness of nature. Their rosy flower smiles but not for joy, for sadness. We can feel a glamour that makes us miss the summer days which are gone for long’. Pupil aged 10 years, Romania