by Katharina Wurzinger & Florian Edlinger [Gedenkdienst] ¦
How to remember your neighborhood?
¦ Starting your own remembrance project can feel overwhelming at first – especially if it’s your first time taking on such an endeavor. That’s why, on September 25, we organized an event together with colleagues from Trafo.K, the Herklotzgasse 21 Project, the Karajangasse Memorial, and the AK Memorial Walk, titled “How to Grätzl-Remembrance” (“How to remember your neighborhood?”).*
The aim was to show what remembrance culture can look like in one’s own neighborhood – and to think together about the many forms it can take.
Our cooperation partners shared numerous inspiring ideas, which we’ve gathered here. From them, we developed 10 steps for your own remembrance project:
- Start with your everyday life
Ask yourself: What stories are hidden in the building where I live or work?
Who lived here before? Why does my street have its name – and did it once have another? - Build connections
Research which initiatives already exist in your neighborhood. If possible, reach out: What experiences have they had? Could you get involved? - Define your project
What do you want to achieve? Should the project be activist, educational – or both? Who do you want to reach? Think about who you’ll work with, and include (especially) those directly affected. - Reflect on yourself
Why did I choose this project? Who do I want to remember – and who might I be unintentionally excluding? From what perspective am I speaking? Where do I lack expertise – for instance in historical research, organization, or public outreach? Who could I bring on board? - Remove barriers
To ensure as many people as possible can participate, consider accessibility:
use simple language, provide multilingual materials, and choose barrier-free locations. Inclusion is a human right! - Do your research
Talk to people, read texts, or contact an archive – and always consider where your information comes from. For Vienna, we recommend: geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at, memento.wien, or findbuch.at. - Get support
You don’t have to know or do everything yourself – seek out experts. They can be historians or researchers, but also eyewitnesses, students, neighbors, or artists. - The journey is the goal
It’s not only about the final result but also about the process. For example, working together with youth groups can itself be an important part of the project. - Make use of funding opportunities
Many projects need a budget. Look into open calls and funding programs – for instance from the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH), the National Fund (Nationalfonds), the Future Fund (Zukunftsfond), the City of Vienna’s cultural department (Kulturabteilung Stadt Wien), your district, or foundations. - Go public
Make your project visible – through the press, social media, or targeted invitations.
*Grätzl is an Austrian word for a small neighborhood/hood.