Registration is now open for the international conference Between Memory and Stone, taking place on 19 October 2026 at Musikbrauerei Berlin.

The conference brings together researchers, curators, educators, local politicians, lawyers, journalists, and civil society practitioners from Germany, Poland, and Ukraine to explore how our societies confront, reinterpret, and transform the Soviet legacy that continues to shape public space and collective memory.

Together, we discuss how public history and transnational cooperation can foster pluralistic, value-based cultures of remembrance across borders and translate historical reflection into civic practice.

Should we reclaim Soviet history and memory as ‘ours’ — and if so, how, and can we distinguish between our societies’ contribution to the colonial power structures within the system of Soviet domination, which was imposed primarily through Moscow’s totalitarian coercion? How might we distinguish and evaluate the national cultural motifs and narratives that persist within, or emerge against, the shared Soviet heritage of Poland, Ukraine, and Germany?

At the same time, to what extent can Soviet heritage be conceptualized as a security concern, given russia’s ongoing instrumentalization of history and memory as tools of hybrid warfare? Should memory politics within EU territory accordingly be understood as a dimension of security policy, with the re-contextualization of Soviet heritage framed as a matter of collective self-protection?

19 October 2026 
10:00–20:00
 Musikbrauerei Berlin, Greifswalder Str. 23A, 10405, Berlin

Full programme & registration: https://betweenmemoryandstone.com/conference/#register

Organised by Vitsche e.V. together with the Pilecki Institute Berlin and Past / Future / Art. The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt).

How do technology, media, and political communication shape our opinions? What role do people with migration backgrounds play in Berlin’s political life? And how can we actively participate in democratic processes ourselves?

We are exploring answers to these questions not only in theory, but through dialogue and exchange! We have already held three inspiring events — and if you couldn’t join us or would like to revisit them, the recordings are now available on our YouTube channel.

And we’re not stopping there! We warmly invite you to join us in person for our upcoming events.

“Democracy Belongs to All of Us” is a political education and participation project by Vitsche e.V. It specifically aims to empower people with migration backgrounds in Berlin to actively participate in democratic life, particularly in elections.

The project is funded by the Berlin State Agency for Civic Education (Berliner Landeszentrale für politische Bildung).

📅 Our Upcoming Free Events in October
Join us for engaging workshops, panel discussions, and plenty of opportunities to connect, exchange ideas, and meet others. Come along and be part of the conversation!

📍 1. Workshop: Opportunities for Participation & Civic Engagement

• When: Monday, 05.10. | 18:00
• Where: Vitsche Office
• With: Vladyslava Vorobiova
• What we’ll discuss: Democracy is an everyday process. We’ll introduce concrete legal and practical tools for participation, including petitions, citizens’ motions, and residents’ motions at the local level. We’ll also explore the importance of long-term engagement in associations, initiatives, and advisory councils.

📍 2. CANCELLED — Vitsche Talk: The Role of Migrants in Berlin’s Political Life

📍 3. Vitsche Talk: Democracy in Times of Propaganda

• When: Monday, 12.10. | 18:00
• Where: Heinrich-Schulz-Bibliothek
• With: Elisabed Chachava (JEF), Mariam Kublashvili (YATA), Jakob Springfeld, Linus Döldner
• Moderation: Danylo Poliluev-Schmidt
• What we’ll discuss: Geopolitical instability and targeted disinformation campaigns (FIMI) threaten trust in democratic processes. We’ll examine the current political climate in Germany and discuss strategies for protecting democratic institutions as well as ways to strengthen public trust.

📍 4. Interactive Workshop (ENG): AI & Elections: Helping Young Voters Spot Their Own Bias

• When: Tuesday, 13.10. | 18:00
• Where: Vitsche Office
• With: Artur Yatsenko
• What we’ll discuss: How do AI-powered influence operations work during elections, and which cognitive biases make us vulnerable to them? Drawing on case studies — including Anthropic’s 2026 Threat Intelligence Report — we’ll learn how to recognize confirmation bias, fact-check information, and identify misinformation online.

🎟️ Join Us! 
Participation in all events is free of charge. Feel free to bring friends, fellow students, colleagues, or anyone else who might be interested!

👉 REGISTER: https://forms.gle/UpTFtLaAunrGWEXT6
We look forward to engaging in discussions and exchanging ideas with you!

We at Vitsche e.V. are excited to announce the Open Call for our 6-day Forum Theatre Residency “Foreign Visitors” (“Gäste aus der Fremde”), taking place from November 12–18, 2026, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany!

Curated by Eva Yakubovska, the residency brings together 6 selected participants (interdisciplinary artists, actors, researchers, and activists) from Ukraine, Poland, and Germany.

Drawing on archival sources and personal letters, we will explore the experiences of Ukrainian and Polish forced laborers during World War II and examine how historical memory, discrimination, and the distortion of history continue to shape our present.

Together with experts, facilitators, and a Joker, participants will develop short performances using the Forum Theatre methodology. The residency will culminate in a public performance on November 17, 2026, at Atelierhaus Gelsenkirchen!

💡 Project Context & Funding

This residency is part of our broader project “Memory of Forced Labor: Ukraine and Poland under National Socialism” (“Erinnerung an Zwangsarbeit: Ukraine und Polen im Nationalsozialismus”).

The project is implemented as part of the Education Agenda on Nazi Injustice (Bildungsagenda NS-Unrecht) funding program, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) and administered by the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ Foundation).

🤝 Partner Organizations:

• Project Leads: Vitsche e.V. & Pilecki Institute Berlin

• Partners: Institute for City History Gelsenkirchen, NGO Sklad 2.0 & NGO After Silence (ГО «Після тиші»)

📌 Key Application Details:

• When: November 12–18, 2026 (Public performance: November 17)

• Where: Gelsenkirchen, Germany

• Application Deadline: October 15, 2026

• What’s Covered: Accommodation, meals, and travel expenses for selected participants.

👉 Interested in participating? Find all the details and the application form here: Apply Here

Join us in this important project of exploring and critically reflecting on our shared history!

We are happy to welcome 15 participants from Ukraine, Poland, and Germany, selected by the MemoryLab jury to join us in Berlin:

• Eva Hasel
• Dalila Daut
• Iga Nowicz
• Anna Ivchenko
• Tetiana Kornieieva
• Linka Nowell
• Sergei Belaoki
• Zlata Veresniak
• Anastazja Palczukiewicz
• Juliusz Mazur-Machowski
• Iryna Loskot
• Yuliia Fernos
• Mykola Shylin
• Iryna Kupchynska
• Kateryna Hryshchenko

From 21 to 26 September, they will spend an intensive week exploring memory, difficult heritage, public history, and the Soviet legacy through seminars, lectures, workshops, discussions, and curatorial sessions.

Throughout the week, they will work with experts and practitioners from Ukraine, Poland, and Germany:

Seminars, lectures, and workshops by:
• Prof. Dr. Andrii Portnov
• Dr. Stefanie Eisenhuth
• Yeva Yakubovska
• Dr. Bartłomiej Kapica
• Dr. Małgorzata Jędrzejczyk
• Prof. Dr. Oksana Dovgopolova
• Kateryna Semenyuk
• Alex Bykov

Curators:
• Yeva Yakubovska
• Prof. Dr. Oksana Dovgopolova
• Kateryna Semenyuk
• Prof. Dr. Andrii Portnov

Facilitator:
• Oksana Holubenko

Participants will also develop their own research, artistic, and civic contributions for the MemoryLab StoryMap.
Project funded by Auswärtiges Amt

On 24 August, Ukraine’s Independence Day, Vitsche invites you to an installation at Pariser Platz, followed by a protest march. The events aim to draw attention to the everyday reality Ukrainians continue to face under russia’s war of aggression and to highlight the connection between protecting Ukraine’s civilians and safeguarding Europe’s security.

From 10:00, a large protective net will be suspended above Pariser Platz. The installation reflects a familiar sight in many Ukrainian frontline towns and along critical roads, where protective nets are stretched over streets and public spaces in an attempt to shield civilians from drone attacks.

Beneath the net, an exhibition presents the stories of civilians who have become victims of the so-called “Human Safari” – a deliberate form of russian drone attacks targeting ordinary people.

“Every intercepted missile or drone represents a life saved. The impact of technology depends on whose hands it is in. russia uses drones to terrorize civilians through a human safari, while Ukraine uses innovation to protect lives — from interceptor drones that shield cities from aerial attacks to technologies that help evacuate the wounded and save soldiers on the front line. This experience is invaluable for the security of all Europe,” said Kateryna Mykhalko, Managing Director of New Age Defense.

The installation uses the protective net to illustrate the stark contrast between two realities. While in Germany, the sky is most often associated with the weather and day-to-day life, for people in Ukraine, it has become a source of constant danger. The temporary protective net over Pariser Platz is not presented as a permanent solution. Rather, it demonstrates how improvised protective measures have become necessary in Ukraine to shield people from aerial attacks. The most effective protection, however, is preventing such attacks from happening in the first place – through air defense systems and technologies that protect civilians before a threat reaches them.

What is made visible by the installation is then taken up by the protest march as a core political demand: Ukraine needs effective protection for its cities and its people. From 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm, the protest march will proceed from Potsdamer Platz to Pariser Platz, underscoring that this protection is a central component of European security. Ukraine is not only defending its own sovereignty, but also peace and stability in Europe.

Those who seek protection – for themselves or for others – must develop and provide the systems that make such protection possible.

More Info

At the European Parliament, we spoke about Ukraine — directly where key European decisions are made.

The discussions focused on the issues that remain crucial for Ukraine: security, military and financial support, the return of abducted Ukrainian children, the release of unlawfully detained civilians, and accountability for russian crimes.

Our message was clear: Ukraine must not simply remain on the European agenda. It must be at the centre of it.

Because behind every political discussion are human lives that cannot wait.

We returned from Brussels with new contacts, ideas, and concrete approaches for our future work. The conversations continue — and so does our commitment to keeping Ukraine at the centre of European attention.

On April 12, Hungary held pivotal elections that could significantly reshape the country’s political landscape. The decisive victory of the Tisza party raises key questions: What will this shift mean for Hungarian–Ukrainian relations? And what role will Hungary play in Europe going forward? 

In this Vitsche Talk, we will analyze recent developments and discuss possible future scenarios for relations between Hungary and Ukraine.

When: April 23, 2026, 18:30
Where: Berlin (exact location will be shared via email after registration is confirmed)
Language: DE
Admission: free donation
Registration: https://forms.gle/2XHZK3HfxdNH8ser9

Speaker:

🎤 Péter Adamik is a political activist and part of the Free Hungarian Embassy. He will provide insights into Hungary’s domestic political dynamics, interpret the election results, and outline what they could mean for Ukraine and Europe.