How can complex, politically charged content be communicated in a way that is both accessible and inclusive, without trivialising it? The conference ‘Inclusive and Ideology-Critical? Memorial Sites: Balancing Sensitivity to Discrimination, Criticism of Anti-Semitism, Accessibility and Design for All’ brings together practitioners and researchers – to highlight conflicts, share tried-and-tested strategies and develop new approaches.
Practical information at a glance
Conference: 17–18 September 2026 (Save the date; registration not yet open)
Venue: Berlin, Lower Saxony State Representation
Organisers: Lower Saxony Memorials Foundation / Bergen-Belsen Memorial / Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz Memorial and Educational Centre
Contact: info@stiftung-ng.de
Conference language: German
Costs: Travel, accommodation and meal expenses will be covered. Speakers will receive a fee of €300.
Background and objective
Memorial sites, documentation centres and historical-political educational venues operate at the intersection of language sensitive to discrimination, accessibility issues and design for all.
Exhibition texts and social media content should be short, clear and accessible – around 500 characters per object description – with diagrams and maps presented clearly and narratives easy to follow.
At the same time, precise self-designations, gender forms and context-sensitive curation require space – which may then be lacking for historical contextualisation. In communicating content critical of anti-Semitism, psychoanalytical or social-psychological terms such as projection, rationalisation or defence against guilt are frequently used – but these are not automatically understandable.
Visitors to memorial and educational sites learn not only through exhibitions, but also through the way they are treated. Institutional conduct is therefore itself part of educational and public engagement work. The conference therefore asks:
- How can we ensure that racist or anti-Semitic experiences are not reproduced in these places?
- How can we simplify things without losing anything essential – and clarify them in such a way that no one is excluded?
- How can complex, politically and morally charged content (anti-Semitism, ideology, research into perpetrators) be communicated in a way that is understandable and inclusive, without trivialising or reproducing stereotypes?
- Where is the line between simplification and making content accessible, and the point at which this tips over into affirmation? How much complexity does ideological critique require to remain effective?
The conference brings together practice, research and perspectives from representatives of different communities. The aim is to highlight conflicts, share tried-and-tested strategies and discuss research and evaluation approaches.