The main purpose of this project is to deliver new empirical yet also theoretically informed knowledge of those memory agents, practices and contexts capable of countering fixed and essentialist war and conflict memories, opening them to reflexive reinterpretation and change. Theoretically, the project will develop the concept of an agonistic ethico-political mode of remembering as distinct from the antagonistic and cosmopolitan modes, and provide a thick description of their defining characteristics. A related aim is to assess which of the two reflective modes, the cosmopolitan or the agonistic, best contributes to a shared European ethico-political framework and transnational solidarity. Empirically, the project will test the different ethico-political modes of remembering in contemporary heritage discourses and practices by different memory milieus located at various territorial scales in relation to some of the armed conflicts of the 20th century with an enduring legacy. By exploring the relationship between 1) the modes of remembering being negotiated and contested in various European settings; 2) the memory agents promoting them (heritage professionals, policy-makers, historians, creative artists, socio-political activists); and 3) material and immaterial heritage (museums, burial sites, media, visual and written culture), the project will assess how, why and in which contexts certain modes of remembering the violent past are able to prevail as well as their articulation with various territorial identities.

CONSIDER aims to develop sustainable management model (SMM) for industrial heritage sites (IHS) for the benefits of the local communities as a resource for strengthening collective identities, improving the urban landscape, promoting eco-friendly solutions, and contributing to the urban economy and a sustainablefuture of the city. It will investigate SMM for industrial heritage while exploring participatory governance models as a tool to better integrate IHS with European society. Deindustrialisation processes all around Europe give rise to social, economic and environmental problems that are resulting from structural change. Thus, there is an urgent need to find SMM to overcome these challenges. 3 research objectives are; i) To expand on what is considered as industrial heritage, how to safeguard them ii) To investigate the history of sites to identify most influential factors used to maximise the benefit iii) To explore inclusive governance and participatory models as a tool to better integrate industrial heritage with society. The innovative side of this model is its inclusive approach to the problem (regionally, sectorial, taking into consideration gender aspects, and its highlight on the exchange of knowledge, technology and labour). This novelcollaboration will be improved by through synergies, networking activities, organisation of workshop, summer school, webinars, and final conference to facilitate sharing of knowledge. The circular knowledge exchange is based on systematic and triple-helix approach between academia (universities), policymakers (municipalities), and practitioners (SME/NGO) that will contribute both in identifying problems and developing guidelines for their improvement. This research brings novelty in respect of geographic regions that previously were not sufficiently investigated and inventoried thus providing the basis for further comparative research undertakings and sustainability of the project outcomes in creation of new knowledge.

At home and abroad Weimar is usually perceived as a memorial of Weimar Classicism, which has significantly influenced the European idea of humanity. Political leaders of the 19th century and the 20th century saw themselves as guardian and keeper of the cultural heritage of Weimar Classicism around 1800. The National Assembly in 1919, which was held at the National Theatre, refers to the Weimar Classicism. The National Socialists understood themselves as guardians of the Classicism as well. Their first political convention and their deployments took place in the German National Theatre and at the Theatre Square in front of it. The Theatre Square with the monument of Goethe and Schiller was the central location and venue of the exploitation of the cultural heritage. The monument is the most famous representative, identity-establishing object of Weimar and depicted on travel guides, picture books and postcards. Despite the different historical functions of the humanistic heritage there is still an unreflective way of remembrance of the Weimarer Classicism with Goethe and Schiller, whether by tourist groups or in the frame of laying wreaths. Furthermore and at the same time this memorial is also a public place of encounter and exchange. In this regard the Theatre Square with the memorial is representative of a large number of places of memories who are public spaces as well. The political dimension of such places moved back into the public awareness by the occurrences in Taksim Square in Istanbul or the Maidan in Kiew. At the Theatre Square in Weimar and the monument of Goethe and Schiller there will be an international discourse of the meaning and function of such public spaces. Within an open mind debate and intercultural exchange youngsters will be thinking about the multifacetedness of public spaces as well as their present and future usage. 30 high school and university students from Essen, Weimar and Istanbul are a part of an international youth exchange with site visits, group discussions, independent research works, artistic and creative art workshops and recreational activities. The freedom of expression as a key European idea and a human right is manifested not only in the media or politics, but also and especially in the public space. In the frame of the youth exchange the question will be asked, how this fundamental right can be maintained despite a mostly nationalist dominated utilization of memory locations. Within the reflection process the complexity of multiple identities will be viewable. It is important to consider that the identity of each individual is not only influenced by the socio-cultural environment. Furthermore the personal identity is influenced by different family, religious, social, political and regional roles and role expectations. The constructive dealing with the multifacetedness and complexity of the own identity is an important prerequisite for dealing with the meaning and function of public spaces. The different attitudes to these spaces reveal implicitly the importance and value of European pluralism. The aim of the exchange is to strengthen the preservation of the values and the well-being of citizens within the European Union. Additionally the project aims to raise awareness of social exclusion and discrimination as well as the promotion of solidarity. Finally the mobility of the youngsters is encouraged because they realize that home may also arise where people share the same values. Within a kind of travel guide the youngsters are going to translate their experiences and developed perspectives in an own language. Although these declines on the tradition of guidebooks but nevertheless plays with the genre where clichés are often reproduced and breaks them on by the foreign view. The self-designed travel guide is published on the websites of the involved institutions. In addition copies will be printed out for the participants and the public. In the coming years the project will be continued and further developed in other major arenas of public space. The travel brochure will be contained not only one story/ history. It will representing a variety of stories about the meaning and function of public sites of memory.