Observing Walls: 1989-2019

Observing Walls: 1989-2019

The project « Observing Walls: 1989-2019 » was funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme “Europe for Citizens: European Remembrance”

Programme: EACEA: Europe for Citizens: EU Remembrance, 600944

Leading partner: Muzej novejše zgodovine Slovenije

EVENT 1: “Kick-off” meeting

Participation: The event involved 7 citizens, notably 2 participants from Berlin (Germany), 2 participants from Gorizia (Italy), 1 participant from Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina) and 2 participants from Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Location/Dates: The event took place in the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia (Ljubljana, Slovenia) from 04/03/2019 to 06/03/2019.

Short description: Project partners met in Ljubljana (Slovenia) for the kick-off meeting to discuss the final methodology for the project implementation, appoint the working team, finalize the programme, and define the valorisation strategy.

EVENT 2: Round tables and Panel Discussions

2.1: Round table and Panel Discussion in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Participation: The event involved 119 participants, including 113 from Ljubljana (Slovenia), 4 from Germany, 1 from Bosnia and Hercegovina and 1 from Italy. There were 4 panellists, including 1 from Slovenia, 2 from Germany, and 1 from France. The moderator was from Slovenia.

Location/Dates: The Panel Discussion took place in the National Museum of Contemporary History of Ljubljana (Ljubljana, Slovenia) on 05/03/2019. Additionally, the Panel Discussion took place also in the Municipality of Nova Gorica (Nova Gorica, Slovenia) on 06/03/2019.

Short description: Internationally acclaimed lecturers and historians were invited to join the panel discussion in Ljubljana: Axel Klausmeier (Berlin Wall Memorial, Germany), Nicolas Moll (Franco-German Youth Office Berlin/ MemoryLab, France), Ingo Schulze (German writer, Germany), and Kaja Širok (National Museum of Contemporary History, Slovenia) to present an in-depth historical reflection on the circumstances of building and removing walls in Berlin, Gorizia/Nova Gorica and Sarajevo. The panel discussion was moderated by Ervin Milharčič Hladnik (journalist, Slovenia). Borders, physical and mental, were debated with relation to nowadays events, comparing different national contexts and unearthing common European values. Their interventions were followed by a panel discussion that attracted in particular students. Reports on the event alongside interviews with the participating panellists appeared in several media.

2.2: Round table and Panel Discussion in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina

Participation: The event involved 74 participants, including 54 from Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina), 10 from Germany, 2 from France, 2 from Albania, 1 from Austria, 1 from Serbia, 1 from Australia, 1 from Cyprus, 1 from China, and 1 from Taiwan. The panellists were: 1 from Slovenia, 1 from Germany, 2 from Bosnia and Hercegovina, and 1 from United Kingdom. The moderator was from France.

Location/Dates: The Panel Discussion took place in the History Museum of Bosnia and Hercegovina on 12/04/2019 (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina).

Short description: Internationally acclaimed lecturers and historians were invited to join the panel discussion in Sarajevo: Bettina Effner (Berlin Wall Foundation, Germany), Paul Lowe (photographer, London, UK), Zenit Đozić (actor and TV producer, Sarajevo, BiH), Lejla Gačanica (History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH) and Kaja Širok (National Museum of Contemporary History, Slovenia). The panel discussion was moderated by Nicolas Moll (Franco-German Youth Office Berlin/ MemoryLab, France). Again, the panellists presented an in-depth historical reflection on the circumstances of building and removing walls in Berlin, Gorizia/Nova Gorica and Sarajevo to an audience in Sarajevo.

2.3: Round table and Panel Discussion in Berlin, Germany

Participation: The event involved 65 participants, including 59 from Berlin (Germany), 3 from Slovenia, and 3 from United States of America. The panellists were: 2 from Slovenia, 1 from Germany, and 1 from Bosnia and Hercegovina. The moderator was from Germany.

Location/Dates: The Panel Discussions took place in the Foundation Berlin Wall on 15/05/2019 (Berlin, Germany).

Short description: Internationally acclaimed lecturers and historians were invited to join the panel discussion in Berlin: Axel Klausmeier (Berlin Wall Memorial, Germany), Kaja Širok (National Museum of Contemporary History, Slovenia), Lejla Gačanica (History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH), Klemen Miklavič (Mayor of Nova Gorica, Slovenia). The panel discussion was moderated by Leo Schmidt (Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU), Germany). Again, the panellists presented an in-depth historical reflection on the circumstances of building and removing walls in Berlin, Gorizia/Nova Gorica and Sarajevo to an audience in Berlin.

EVENT 3: Archives of Memory

Participation: The event involved participants from all partner countries, providing 146 testimonies by participants including 64 testimonies from Slovenia, 53 from Bosnia and Hercegovina, 9 from Italy and 20 from Germany.

Location/Dates: The event took place in the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia (Ljubljana, Slovenia), in the History Museum of Bosnia and Hercegovina (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina), in the Qarantasettezeroquattro (Gorizia, Italy), and in the Foundation Berlin Wall (Berlin, Germany). The venue of the event was the worldwide web from 01/02/2019 to 31/03/2020.

Short description: Testimonies include photos, letters, postcards, interviews, stories, artefacts, memories but also personal views of the citizens from the four discussed cities. Some of them are still available online, all of them, however, are treasured by the partners and were used to create the international travelling exhibition and the book. In Slovenia, an Archives of Memory was created on the RTV SLO MMC news portal with testimonies from Slovenia, but also from the partner countries are also presented.  Alongside the stories, many articles and video records are also available.

EVENT 4: Online Contest Observing Walls

Participation: The Contest involved 310 participants from all European countries as well as from Brazil, Israel, Mexico, Palestine, the USA, and elsewhere. The event involved also 8 participants as the members of international jury, notably 2 participants from Berlin (Germany), 2 participants from Gorizia (Italy), 2 participant from Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina) and 2 participants from Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Location/Dates: From 01/02/2019 to 30/05/2019 participants contributed 310 entries, the best of which were awarded, exhibited and presented in the Book of essays. The venue of the event was the worldwide web. The event was conducted by the National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia (Ljubljana, Slovenia), the History Museum of Bosnia and Hercegovina (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina), the Qarantasettezeroquattro (Gorizia, Italy), and the Foundation Berlin Wall (Berlin, Germany).

Short description: Students from all European countries as well as from Brazil, Israel, Mexico, Palestine, the USA, and elsewhere participated in the in Instagram contest Observing Walls: 1989-2019. Using the hashtag #ObservingWalls young people from around the world contributed their views on the walls and borders in today’s society.

EVENT 5: Travelling exhibition Observing Walls

5.1: Travelling exhibition Observing Walls in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Participation: The exhibition opening was attended by 122 citizens, including 116 participants from Ljubljana (Slovenia), 2 participants from Hungary, 1 participants from Germany, 1 participant from Bulgaria, 1 participant from Greece, and 1 participant from Italy. The travelling exhibition was prepared by all the partners of the project and associates: 8 participants from the city of Ljubljana and Nova Gorica (Slovenia), 4 participants from the city of Berlin (Germany), 5 participants from the city of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina) and 2 participants from Gorizia (Italy).

Location/Dates: The international travelling exhibition was first put up at the National Museum of Contemporary History in Slovenia between 14/06/2019 to 18/08/2019 (Ljubljana, Slovenia). Additionally, it was displayed in the city of Nova Gorica during the Nova Gorica Book Fair between 17/12/2019 and 20/12/2019 (Slovenia). Now, the exhibition can be viewed as an online 360º version.

Short description: By means of documentary material as well as the material gathered during the project’s activities and events, the exhibition, a joint effort of all four partner countries (Slovenia, Germany, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Italy), informed about past events and raised awareness of the legacy of the contested cities. Based on the idea that a better future cannot be created without critical thinking and multi-layered remembrance of the past, the exhibition offered a significant insight into the understanding of freedom, democracy, and divisions, especially in the historic years of 1989 and 2004. Altogether with the exhibition in Germany and Bosnia and Hercegovina, more than 3.000 visitors saw the exhibition between June 2019 and April 2020.

5.2: Travelling exhibition Observing Walls in Berlin, Germany

Participation: The exhibition opening was attended by 75 citizens, including 72 participants from Berlin (Germany), 1 participant from Slovenia, 1 participant from Greece, and 1 participant from Luxembourg. The travelling exhibition was prepared by all the partners of the project and associates: 8 participants from the city of Ljubljana and Nova Gorica (Slovenia), 4 participants from the city of Berlin (Germany), 5 participants from the city of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina) and 2 participants from Gorizia (Italy).

Location/Dates: The international travelling exhibition first travelled to Berlin, where it was put up in the Marienfelde Refugee Center Museum (Berlin, Germany) between 20/09/2019 to 01/03/2020. Now, the exhibition can be viewed as an online 360º version.

Short description: By means of documentary material as well as the material gathered during the project’s activities and events, the exhibition, a joint effort of all four partner countries (Slovenia, Germany, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Italy), informed about past events and raised awareness of the legacy of the contested cities. Based on the idea that a better future cannot be created without critical thinking and multi-layered remembrance of the past, the exhibition offered a significant insight into the understanding of freedom, democracy, and divisions, especially in the historic years of 1989 and 2004. Altogether with the exhibition in Slovenia and Bosnia and Hercegovina, more than 3.000 visitors saw the exhibition between June 2019 and April 2020.

5.3: Travelling exhibition Observing Walls in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina

Participation: The exhibition opening was attended by 71 citizens from Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina). The travelling exhibition was prepared by all the partners of the project and associates: 8 participants from the city of Ljubljana and Nova Gorica (Slovenia), 4 participants from the city of Berlin (Germany), 5 participants from the city of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina) and 2 participants from Gorizia (Italy).

Location/Dates: The international travelling exhibition was put up in the History Museum of Bosnia and Hercegovina (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina), where it was on display between 22/11/2019 and 29/02/2020 in. Now, the exhibition can be viewed as an online 360º version.

Short description: By means of documentary material as well as the material gathered during the project’s activities and events, the exhibition, a joint effort of all four partner countries (Slovenia, Germany, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Italy), informed about past events and raised awareness of the legacy of the contested cities. Based on the idea that a better future cannot be created without critical thinking and multi-layered remembrance of the past, the exhibition offered a significant insight into the understanding of freedom, democracy, and divisions, especially in the historic years of 1989 and 2004. Altogether with the exhibition in Slovenia and Germany, more than 3.000 visitors saw the exhibition between June 2019 and April 2020.

EVENT 6: Workshops Observing Walls

Participation: The workshops were attended by 235 participants, including 69 participants in Gorizia (Italy), 95 participants in Berlin (Germany), and 71 participants in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina).

Location/Dates: The event took place on 26/03/2019 and 10/05/2019 in the Quarantasettezeroquattro headquarters and open-air (Gorizia, Italy and Nova Gorica, Slovenia). On 11/04/2019 and 28/05/2019 it took place in The Foundation Berlin Wall headquarters (Berlin, Germany). On 12/04/2019 it took place in The History Museum of Bosnia and Hercegovina (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina).

Short Description: The workshops were performed in parallel to the exhibition, enabling thus a higher participatory effect among young people. At the workshops, participants studied the historical documents as well as the Archives of Memory. They visited places of memory and discussed the topics of freedom, democracy, remembrance, the policy of division and different interpretations of shared European values. The Workshops were also used for the valorisation of the project’s results.

EVENT 7: Book of Essays Observing Walls

Participation: The event involved 21 participants, including authors of essays, photographs, translators, editors, language editors, proof-readers and designers contributed to the making of the book: 12 from Slovenia, 4 from Germany, and 2 from Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Location/Dates: The book was produced by Beletrina Academic Press (Ljubljana, Slovenia). The editing took place from 01/05/2019 to 04/11/2019.

Short description: The book of essays Observing Walls: 1989-2019 features essays by guest lecturers as well as students from partner countries, Instagram contest images as well as testimonies from the Archives of Memory. It also includes an article by a renowned Slovenian investigative journalist, presenting the current refugee crises in correlation to the project’s subject. It is available in English in print as well as in e-book format.

EVENT 8: Valorisation

Participation: The valorisation involved 235 participants, including 69 participants in Gorizia (Italy), 95 participants in Berlin (Germany), and 71 participants in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Hercegovina).

Location/Dates: The valorisation took place in parallel to the workshops (Event 6) on 26/03/2019 and 10/05/2019 in the Quarantasettezeroquattro headquarters and in the open-air (Gorizia, Italy and Nova Gorica, Slovenia). On 11/04/2019 and 28/05/2019 it took place in The Foundation Berlin Wall headquarters (Berlin, Germany). On 12/04/2019 it took place in The History Museum of Bosnia and Hercegovina (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina).

Short Description: The valorisation aimed to evaluate the implementation of the project and the results of the project, assessing the gained knowledge about the legacy of the four towns through the issue of division, the collective reinterpretation of the past and shared European values. The valorisation showed that young people participating in the workshop at first understood the issue of the wall narrowly, focusing on their personal experience as citizens of a particular country. The testimonies recorded at the end of the workshop prove that the project increased their knowledge of the wall as a physical and mental barrier as well as a political issue. They could see that walls still exist in today’s Europe and that Europe’s legacy of democracy and equal rights still inspire citizens to fight them in their milieu.

Observing Walls: 1989-2019, supported by the Europe for Citizens programme, focused on the walls in Europe – understood as a physical reality and as a symbol of division in divided cities: Berlin, Gorizia/Nova Gorica, and Sarajevo. It was triggered by the realization that thirty years after the fall of the Berlin wall the process of democratisation of Europe failed to fully accomplish its goals. Many walls were brought down, but new ones were raised instead, some of them deeply troubling our society. The project helped understand these facts and build a sense of community among the citizens. Five partners – The National Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia, Beletrina Academic Press, The Foundation Berlin Wall, The History Museum of Bosnia and Hercegovina, and The Quarantasettezeroquatro – from four countries, Slovenia, Germany, Bosna and Hercegovina, and Italy, joined forces to highlight Europe’s important and complex legacy.

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