With pride and joy, we announce that on December 17, 2024, Consul General Martin Kremer presented, on behalf of Dietmar Nietan, the German Government Coordinator for Polish-German Cross-Border and Inter-Societal Cooperation, a certificate of recognition to Dr. habil. Robert Żurek for his outstanding contributions to building Polish-German relations.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our director and colleague, who inspires us every day with his dedication and passion for fostering dialogue and mutual understanding.
Read more: Dr. habil. Robert Żurek Honored for Contributions to Polish-German Relations
"Images, Power and Conflicts of Interpretation in Europe between 1945, 1990 and 2025"
The East-West European Memorial Meeting in Krzyżowa 2025 focuses on historical image memory in relation to the historical turning points of "80 years since the end of WWII" and "35 years since the collapse of the communist states".
The conference will focus on how the use and reception of photographs and images have shaped the memory of historical events in Eastern and Western Europe. How have they been used in memorials, museums, documentation centers and exhibitions before and after 1990? How are they used today? The aim is to take stock: How does the historical memory of images interact with these turning points today? What changed with the historical breaks in the use of images and the narratives that developed around the themes of "mass crimes," "camps," "occupation regimes," and "gestures of reconciliation? How has the treatment of images changed since the "visual turn" in the 2000s, and how has digital transformation, including the use of AI, affected the use of photographs and images today?
Read more: Kreisau Memorial Conference 2025
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From December 2 to December 6, an extraordinary youth exchange between Zielona Góra and the German town of Peitz took place. The meeting, held at the International Youth Meeting Centre in Krzyżowa (MDSM Krzyżowa), brought together 40 participants. This event, funded by the Polish-German Youth Office (PNWM), aimed to foster intercultural connections and encourage creative collaboration in a unique holiday atmosphere.
During the exchange, participants took part in various workshops designed to promote creativity and integration. One of the highlights of the program was creating holiday wreaths from wicker, which were then decorated according to individual ideas. The process required teamwork, imagination, and manual skills. The results impressed both participants and organizers alike.
In addition to creative activities, the youth prepared posters and presentations reflecting their shared discussions on daily customs and hobbies in Poland and Germany. This allowed participants to better understand cultural diversity while discovering numerous common interests.
Krzyżowa, with its historical significance as a place of dialogue and collaboration, provided the perfect backdrop for the exchange. It not only nurtured creative skills but also facilitated the formation of international friendships and mutual understanding. Participants emphasized that working together, regardless of language or cultural differences, is an excellent way to build close relationships and mutual respect.
Read more: Polish-German Youth Exchange – Creative Activities at the International Youth Meeting Centre in...
On 10 December 2024, a seven-day seminar entitled ‘Remembrance, Understanding, Future’ will commence in Krzyżowa and Wrocław, uniting young participants from the Western Balkans—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia—alongside their peers from Poland and Germany.
The aim is to bring closer the experience of Polish-German reconciliation after the Second World War, overcoming the burdens and traumas of the past, and to identify contemporary examples of Polish-German dialogue, in order to reflect together with the participants on whether and to what extent they can be an inspiration for other nations seeking to understand each other despite a burdensome past.
Read more: ‘Remembrance, Understanding, Future’ Seminar brings together youth from Western Balkans, Poland,...
