Conference on Memory Activism

events Programme

The conference devoted to memory activism was held in Warsaw as a multi-day series of events focused on contemporary practices of memory activism, with particular attention to Jewish heritage, local histories, and the role of civic and artistic initiatives in processes of commemoration. The conference was conceived as a space for dialogue between grassroots activists working within their local communities, researchers, educators, artists, and representatives of cultural institutions and non-governmental organizations.

The first part of the conference took place on 1 December and focused on the situation of memory activism in Poland. The meeting created a space for direct exchange of experiences between individuals working locally in cities and small towns and representatives of institutions and organizations engaged in commemoration, education, and civic action. Central to the discussions were the changing social and political conditions in which memory activists operate, as well as the challenges, risks, and tensions accompanying local commemorative initiatives. An important element of the program was the sharing of concrete field experiences, including accounts of conflict situations and acts of hostility surrounding commemorative activities, which highlighted the need for stronger and more systematic support for those engaged in this work.

The second part of the conference was organized as a Kultur-Lige meeting and expanded the perspective to include artistic, cultural, and international dimensions. This section brought together artists, curators, educators, and cultural organizers working with themes of memory, language, and contemporary Jewish culture. The program included artistic presentations, performative and participatory activities, lectures, and moderated discussions, which made it possible to view memory activism as a field of creative practice and critical reflection. A special role was played by the work with the exhibition The Power of Words. On Jewish Languages, which became a starting point for conversations about language as a carrier of memory, identity, and cultural continuity.

An integral part of the conference were also formats that encouraged deeper exchange and relationship building, such as small group discussions, community-oriented meetings, and ritual elements. These formats enabled the creation of networks of cooperation among participants from different countries, environments, and disciplines. The cycle concluded with artistic and educational events that symbolically linked reflection on memory with living cultural practice.

The conference as a whole was addressed to a broad and diverse audience, including memory activists, heritage professionals, researchers, educators, artists, local community leaders, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations and cultural institutions. The conference on memory activism strengthened existing networks of cooperation, initiated new partnerships, and made visible the urgent need for long-term, coordinated forms of support for memory activism in Poland and in a broader European context.

📸 Maciek Jaźwiecki, Krzysztof Czubaszek