The representation of difficult pasts, violence, and human rights violations has predominantly been examined through singular case studies, often deeply rooted in specific national contexts. However, as (de)commemorative processes continue to evolve, there is a growing need for broader perspectives that consider the dynamic interplay between memory culture and factors such as technological innovation, curatorial practice, and sustainability.

The conference and graduate workshop “Navigating the Past, Facing the Present: Challenges and Opportunities in Re-Presenting Conflicts and Violence in Memory and Education Institutions” addresses the (evolving) representation of history in public and institutional contexts, with a focus beyond the often-studied field of “memory culture”. Rather than emphasizing the politicization of memory and cultural institutions, the discussion shifts toward new methods, media, and challenges in historical narration, education, and curatorial practices.

Key themes of the workshop include:

• Innovative historical representation: How are new technologies and evolving methodologies reshaping the ways we narrate the past? Topics include digital exhibitions, online educational platforms (e.g. YouTube channels, blogs, virtual museum tours), participatory formats, educational crowdsourcing, and the use of AI in creating historical narratives.
• Commemoration vs. forgetting (de-commemoration): Who decides which events are commemorated, and which are omitted? What drives such decisions? How do these choices reflect broader societal values or exclusions, such as the marginalization of Ukrainian history in Western European narratives?
• War and peace narratives in the public space: How do museums, exhibitions, memorials, and textbooks convey narratives of war and of peace in light of contemporary political conflicts? How can war be represented critically and sensitively, without glorifying violence, while still honoring the victims? 
  What roles do reconciliation and transitional justice play?
• Methodological and curatorial challenges: How can institutions navigate differing perspectives (e.g. local vs. global) in representing history? What tools and techniques can be used to create inclusive, engaging, and critically sound historical narratives?
• Infrastructural barriers: What practical and spatial challenges do institutions face when building or adapting spaces for historical exhibitions? Topics include physical limitations of buildings, access to resources, and the integration of multimedia technologies.
• Environmental perspectives on historical representation: How do climate change and sustainability affect the way we think about the past and the present? What new responsibilities do institutions have in preserving and narrating heritage in an era of ecological emergency?
• Historical education and geopolitical tensions: How do current conflicts shape historical education? What are the risks when history becomes a tool of ideological struggle? How can educational institutions foster critical engagement with the past, free from political manipulation?

This event is organized in cooperation with the Museums and Memory working group of the Memory Studies Association, as well as with the Polish-German Textbook Commission.#

Venue: German Historical Institute Warsaw

Date: October 22-24, 2026

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