Building a Diverse and Inclusive Culture of Remembrance (DAICOR)

Cultural Vistas New Transatlantic Synergies: Building a Diverse and Inclusive Culture of Remembrance (DAICOR) is a reciprocal transatlantic exchange program for individuals with a professional interest in the promotion of an inclusive and progressive culture of remembrance in public spaces in Germany and the United States.

DAICOR builds a new transatlantic network of experts from both countries and was initiated in 2021. Each year the program brings together 16 individuals in two joint exchanges, to explore how diversity, equity and inclusion are currently being implemented in the memorial cultures in the U.S. and Germany.

The program consists of two study tours  and features a series of expert meetings, case studies and group reflections with policymakers, government representatives, memorial institutions, museums, and institutions for political and cultural education. Selected participants explore how the public space can be reimagined to reflect more diverse and honest remembrances, while comparing lessons learned and best practices from each country’s past and current efforts. By the end of the program, participants are expected to devise a practical approach, campaign, or action plan that further contributes to an inclusive and tolerant culture of remembrance.

The program language is English.

Objectives:

  • Learn how diversity, equity and inclusion are currently being implemented in the memorial culture of the United States and Germany
  • Analyze and define differences in approach and identify potential for improvements
  • Compare measures taken with successful measures for dealing with the past
  • Build new transatlantic networks of experts
  • Devise a practical approach, campaign, or action plan that further contributes to an inclusive and tolerant culture of remembrance in public spaces

Program Details:

Each program year consists of one Germany-focused and one U.S.-focused professional exchange. Participants take part in a study tour in the host country and in their own country, to gain comprehensive knowledge of the transatlantic dimensions of the topic.

  • Each participant presents his or her expertise in the field to the cohort, discussing them in a regional, national, and transatlantic context.
  • Participants are expected to summarize their experience and devise a post-exchange campaign or action plan – in a medium of their choice (writing, photography, exhibition, film, or other) – that advances an inclusive and tolerant culture of remembrance.
  • Participants are strongly encouraged to apply the acquired expertise in the implementation of their future projects.
  • Participants become part of a sustainable network of experts and are strongly encouraged maintaining dialog beyond the period of the program.

Please find here information on the DAICOR Fellows 2021 and 2022. 

Read more stories about our alumni:

Cultural Vistas Announce a New Transatlantic Professional Exchange Program Focusing on Cultural Remembrance in the U.S. and Germany

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Culture of Remembrance

 

In-Person Exchange Program 2023:

The 2023 program will be implemented in-person and consists of two international exchanges for participants from the U.S. and Germany. In the first exchange, participants will spend 8 days traveling together to memorial and remembrance sites in Washington, DC, as well as Montgomery, AL, United States. In the second exchange, participants will spend 8 days traveling together to memorial and remembrance sites in Berlin and Hamburg, Germany.

Program Schedule 2023:

March 1 to May 7: Application Period

May 10: Notification of results of application review

June: Pre-exchange preparation; Virtual Introduction Activity

Early July: Virtual Pre-Departure Orientation

July 8 to July 15: In-person Professional Exchange; United States

August: Virtual Networking and Reflection Activity

Early Sept.: Virtual Pre-Departure Orientation

October 8 to October 15: In-Person Professional Exchange; Germany

November: Participants’ final presentations shared publicly

Applicants must be available to participate in all program components. Please note that there is a possibility that the in-person exchanges may shift to virtual if international travel restrictions are reimplemented due to COVID-19. The health and safety of the participants is of the upmost importance and any changes to the program format will be communicated as soon as possible. Applicants need to ensure that they maintain a valid status as being fully vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to the regulations of and with one of the vaccines approved by the national and local health authority in the countries/locations in which they are completing their DAICOR Program Activities.

Application Information & Eligibility:

Each year, eight participants from the United States and eight participants from Germany will participate in the program, selected through an open call for applications – conducted by Cultural Vistas.

Applications are being accepted from:

  • Individuals with a proven professional interest in the promotion of an inclusive and progressive culture of remembrance in public spaces in Germany and the United States (historians, curators, artists, political advisors, academic researchers, etc.)
  • Staff of organizations that focus on progressive approaches to remembrance culture in public spaces (e.g. civil society organizations, grassroots movements, universities, etc.)
  • Practitioners and artists with demonstrated experience in implementing projects that further inclusive practices in public spaces

Applications for the 2023 DAICOR program are being accepted between March 1 and May 7, 2023: Click HERE to apply 

Candidates will be informed about the status of their application by May 10, 2023. 

Questions?

Patricia Pahlke (Cultural Vistas)

ppahlke@culturalvistas.eu

+49 (0)30-206 032 88

+1-212-497-3597 (U.S. line)

Cultural Vistas has developed and administered the DAICOR exchange since 2021.

In 2021-2022, Cultural Vistas partnered with the Heinrich Böll Foundation North America to administer the exchange. The Heinrich Böll Foundation supports a progressive and inclusive culture of remembrance and works closely together with experts in this field in Germany and abroad (most recently in its Transatlantic Partnership on Memory and Democracy in Charlottesville, Virginia). Cultural Vistas and The Heinrich Böll Foundation previously collaborated on the administration of the Welcoming Communities Transatlantic Exchange (WCTE) between 2016-2018.

The Program New Transatlantic Synergies: Building a Diverse and Inclusive Culture of Remembrance (DAICOR) is funded by the Transatlantic Program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs & Climate Action and the U.S. Embassy Berlin. In 2021-2022, it was also partially funded by the Heinrich Böll Foundation.