First partner meeting of the project ''(In)Visible Traces. Artistic memories of the Cold War''

First partner meeting of the project ''(In)Visible Traces. Artistic memories of the Cold War''

As part of the project ''(In)Visible Traces. Artistic memories of the Cold War'', Documenta gathered the first partner meeting, continuing our work on the topics of memorialization and preservation of places of memory with the contribution of artists and artistic interventions.

The kick-off meeting held from 8st to the 10th of February in the House of Human Rights in Zagreb where partners from Austria (BLOCKFREI – Verein für Kultur und Kommunikation), Germany (Erkenntnis durch Erinnerung e.V.) and online from Romania (Asociația Română de Artă Contemporană), together with the contribution of a representative of the Museum of Contemporary Art from Zagreb and artist Andreja Kulunčić, discussed the activities of the project, its results and perspectives.

The project aims to involve artists, art professionals, cultural heritage researchers, youth, educators, policymakers, and other European citizens in a reflection and discussion about European cultural heritage, especially regarding preservation of historical buildings or now vacant sites, which testify to or illustrate the political history of Cold War.

The main need addressed by this project is the lack of visibility and recognition of historical locations from the Cold War period looking for answers through the systematic combining of artistic and research work with heritage protection, along with the experience of project partners. The project aims to contribute the safeguarding and promoting European cultural heritage, focusing on heritage at risk, in need of legal and physical protection or rebuilding after war, highlighting similarities and differences in Europe.

This project will achieve results such as recorded artistic interventions, results from residencies, new material prepared for the exhibition "You betrayed the party when you should have helped it", recommendations from local advocacy round tables, and many others.

The project started on January 1, 2024 and will last until May 31, 2026.

The project is co-financed by the European Union.