On November 14, the Donetsk Regional Local History Museum held an online intensive course entitled «Memorialization: Memory – Space – Responsibility.» The event was dedicated to forming a modern understanding of memorialization processes in Ukraine, primarily in the context of the ongoing war, decolonization, and a general societal rethinking of the past.
The intensive course brought together cultural experts, scholars, and representatives of civil society organizations. The main goal was to provide participants with practical tools for working with places of memory, processes of commemoration, honoring events and personalities, as well as developing modern approaches to exhibition, display, and communication solutions.
The program included a series of expert reports and practical sessions.
Representatives of state and national museum institutions shared their experience of working with sensitive historical heritage, talked about new models of exhibitions, interpretations of complex events, and methods of attracting visitors. A separate section was devoted to the role of public history and media communications in shaping public demand for a responsible understanding of the past.
An important element of the program was the case study workshop «Deconstructing Memory: How to Create a Space for Awareness, Not Cult?» Participants worked in groups to analyze real-life examples of memorialization, which allowed for a professional discussion of ethical challenges and the search for balanced solutions.
The intensive course ended with a panel discussion entitled «Conscious Memorialization,» which summarized the results and formulated recommendations for further work on the humanization and deideologization of memory practices.
The organizers express their sincere gratitude to all participants for their active participation, meaningful presentations, and professional dialogue, which is necessary for the formation of a sustainable, modern, and responsible culture of memory in Ukraine.