How to document war testimonies, commemorate a painful history and translate memory into educational activities?
From 21 to 27 January 2024, the Mieroszewski Centre will hosted ten researchers from Armenia, representing the Armenian Academy of Sciences, the Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan and the Aliq Media Armenia NGO.
The first part of the visit was dedicated to the presentation of the experiences of Polish researchers and institutions in documenting the testimonies of refugee Ukrainian citizens affected by the war. The meetings provided insight into the methodological, ethical-legal and psychological aspects of the research.
The second part of the study visit focused on the issue of the musealisation of historical remembrance. The participants got a glimpse of both the expositions of important museum institutions (the Warsaw Rising Museum, the Katyn Museum, the World War II Museum, the European Solidarity Centre) and the broad spectrum of popularisation and educational activities conducted by these institutions.
The visit was culminated by a closed discussion organised by the Mieroszewski Centre and Richard Pipes Laboratory at the Institute of Political Studies PAN, entitled "From Remembrance to Transitional Justice. XXth Century Armenian Historical Experience and Contemporary Politics of Memory"
This discussion focused on the complex interplay between historical remembrance and contemporary politics of memory within the context of the XXth Century Armenian historical experience. Focused mainly on the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and its aftermath, the communist repressions and struggles after the collapse of USSR, the discussion aims to present the uniqueness of Armenian historical consciousness.
We hope that the above-mentioned exchange of experience and cooperation between Polish and Armenian public institutions will stimulate participants, encouraging them to continue joint activities and projects.