Multidisciplinary Exhibition “The Beginning”

Women in Remembrance Culture (WIRC) invites you to a multidisciplinary exhibition titled The Beginning, opening on 29 October 2026 in Dresden, Germany.

Exploring Remembrance and Forgetting

What happens to people, stories, and artifacts without other people to see, appreciate, and preserve them… nothing? The exhibition DER AUFTAKT (The Beginning) explores this boundary—the line between forgetting and remembering—and presents different artistic positions that place remembrance, or the call for engagement with these issues, at the centre of their work.

The exhibition not only presents different perspectives across the spectrum of art and activism but also introduces the members of the association Women in Remembrance Culture e.V. (WIRC), newly founded in 2025.

Women in Remembrance Culture

The association Women in Remembrance Culture brings together women working in the arts and academia to make specifically female perspectives visible and to anchor them in German and international Cultures of Remembrance. In the past, female perspectives in German and international Cultures of Remembrance have either not been considered or documented at all, or have not been sufficiently represented—and certainly not in a way that even begins to reflect gender parity. For this reason, the Cultures of Remembrance has thus far been shaped by purely or predominantly male perspectives. Through national and international artistic projects, the association aims to remedy this situation and thereby contribute to a truly gender-inclusive and balanced Culture of Remembrance.

About the Exhibition

The exhibition opening will take place on 29 October 2026, at 18:00 at Oschatzer Straße 7 in Dresden, Germany, featuring works by artists Natalia Bougai, Susan Donath, Valérie Madoka Naito, and Heike Richter.

Natalia Bougai

Natalia Bougai, a visual artist, explores her father’s photographic archive. As an amateur photographer, he documented the family’s life. Developing the photos together played a special role for all family members. Many years later, Bougai asked her family to describe these shared moments. The memories they shared form the basis for her artistic work The Red Evening—a performative sound-and-space installation with video. These intimate insights extend beyond the private sphere, creating a panorama of the life of a Russian-Ukrainian family from the past to the present.

Susan Donath

Susan Donath, a visual artist, noticed that the former synagogue in Ústí nad Labem (Czech Republic) rarely appears as a subject on postcards and in photographs. She began searching for postcards featuring the synagogue either as the sole subject or as part of cityscapes. At the same time, she collected material from Dresden, Görlitz, and Teplice. She realised that depictions of synagogues on postcards are often the only remaining visual records of these synagogues today. To make the collected visual material accessible, she published it on the website in 2023: https://www.xn--die-bilder-kommen-zurck-wpc.com/

Valérie Madoka Naito

Valérie Madoka Naito, an architect and documentary filmmaker, accompanied artist Susan Donath to Střekov Cemetery in Ústí nad Labem in 2023 to document the visit on film. Filmed up close, Donath is seen tending to the only grave bearing a German-Czech inscription, a task she has undertaken since 2008. Donath recounts touching encounters with passers-by and shares the findings of her research, which span from royalist Europe to the expulsion of the German minority after World War II. https://naito.eu/

Heike Richter

Heike Richter, an activist in the field of cemetery culture, explicitly advocates for the preservation of “overlooked” gravestones. Every gravestone reflects a person’s story and has the potential to become a memorial. Once the lease on a burial plot expires, the gravestones disappear—and with them, often the last record of a person’s life. Preserving gravestones allows us to remember people and their stories. The gravestone of Eugen Kornblum, located at the Innerer Matthäusfriedhof in Dresden, belongs to a Jewish merchant who survived in a “Judenhaus” until 1945 but was unable to flee during the bombing raid on the night of 13 February 1945.

WDEC 2026 at the Cemetery of the March Revolution

Explore the history of the 1848 revolution through guided tours at the Cemetery of the March Revolution in Berlin, Germany, on 30–31 May 2026.

About the event

The Cemetery of the March Revolution is a silent witness to one of Berlin’s most turbulent periods. In March 1848, the city rose up against authoritarian rule, demanding constitutional rights, freedom of the press, and social justice. Many of those who lost their lives in the barricade battles were laid to rest here, turning this place into a living monument to their courage and vision.

During this guided tour, we will:

• Uncover the history of the cemetery: Why was it established, and what does it symbolize?
• Meet the revolutionaries: Who were the people buried here, and what did they fight for?
• Explore the legacy of 1848: How did the events of that year shape Berlin and Europe, and what lessons do they hold for us today?

Led by Paul Schmitz, a historian with forum 1848, this tour combines historical insight with personal storytelling. Whether you’re a history buff, a student, or simply curious, this is your chance to connect with a pivotal moment in Berlin’s past.

Dates, location and booking

During the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, two guided walks will take place at the Cemetery of the March Revolution:

• 30 May 2026 at 11:00 am (booking here)
• 31 May 2026 at 4:30 pm (booking here)

This special event is organised by forum 1848. Admission is free, but booking is required.

WDEC 2026 at the Inner Neustadt Cemetery

On 28 May 2026, a film screening by renowned artist Natalia Bougai took place at Inner Neustadt Cemetery in Dresden, Germany.

About the event

As part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026, the organization Women In Remembrance Culture e.V. (WIRC) hosted a special event — a film screening by the renowned artist Natalia Bougai — on 28 May 2026 at 19:00 at the Inner Neustadt Cemetery (Friedensstraße 2, 01097 Dresden, Germany).

Natalia Bougai grew up in Central Russia and Ukraine and studied History and German Studies, as well as Artistic Photography and Media Art, at the Leipzig Academy of Visual Arts (HGB). In her project d wie dora (“d as in Dora”), she embarked on a deeply personal search for traces of her own identity within the mementos left behind by concentration camp prisoners during the Second World War.

Based on surviving autobiographical novels, testimonies, and diaries written by former prisoners, the film presented their thoughts exclusively in textual form. In the film, Bougai’s reflections on place, time, and her own presence within them transformed into mirror images of her inner world: “A silent conspiracy of the speakers with themselves, to preserve their self-determination and dignity.”

Following the screening, a panel discussion exploring the film’s themes and historical context took place. The entire event lasted approximately one hour.

For additional information or questions, please contact naito@wirc.network.

Old Cemetery of Dahlwitz-Hoppegarten (Hoppegarten, Germany)

A late 19th-century cemetery near Berlin showcasing the lives and legacies of prominent figures from the world of horse racing.

Cemetery History

The Old Cemetery is located in the district of Dahlwitz-Hoppegarten, just a few kilometers from Berlin. Today, Hoppegarten is best known for its horse racing track, which opened in 1868 and brought profound change to the village. It transformed from a rural settlement into a cosmopolitan center with an international population accustomed to a different lifestyle.

New streets and large houses with extensive stables and training facilities were built, and jockeys and trainers from England, Scotland, Austria, France, and other countries made Hoppegarten their home. Due to rapid population growth, the small cemetery by the village church soon became insufficient. In 1884, a new burial ground was established, now known as the “Old Cemetery,” which opened in 1892 with its first burial.

The cemetery covers around 5,500 square metres. A straight path leads from the entrance to the funeral hall, with family burial plots along both sides, many belonging to notable figures from the world of horse racing. After the Second World War, the cemetery fell into neglect, which helped preserve many graves in their original form. Today, it remains an important testament to the history of horse racing in Europe.

In 2016, the municipality of Hoppegarten acquired the cemetery to ensure its preservation, and in 2025 the first wall tombs were restored.

Architecture and Landscape

When the cemetery was established in the 19th century, it was supported by significant private contributions. Manor owner Heinrich von Treskow provided the land and financed the construction of the funeral hall. The Union Club, owner of the racecourse and organiser of the races, also contributed financially, while trainer George Long donated 40 lime trees.

The funeral hall was built between 1891 and 1892 according to plans by architect August Meißner from Friedrichshagen (Berlin). Limestone from the nearby Rüdersdorf quarries—widely used in Hoppegarten—served as the main building material. The identity of the landscape architect remains unknown.

The Old Cemetery has largely preserved its original layout. Although the once dense rows of lime trees have gradually disappeared and some burial areas are no longer in use, the funeral hall, many graves, and the overall structure remain largely intact. Its design is modest; its uniqueness lies in the exceptional concentration of graves belonging to international figures from the world of horse racing.

Cemetery Significance

The Old Cemetery of Dahlwitz-Hoppegarten is a key witness to the history of horse racing. The opening of the Hoppegarten racecourse in 1868 attracted leading figures from across Europe and transformed the village within a few decades from an agricultural community into an international centre of the sport.

By 1876, around 120–130 horses were stabled in Hoppegarten; by 1900, this number had grown to about 900 during the summer season. By the late 19th century, the town was known as the “German Newmarket.” This transformation is reflected in the cemetery, where jockeys, trainers, and racing personalities from England, France, Austria-Hungary, Scotland, and beyond are buried.

The preserved gravestones show both integration and continuity: some inscriptions are in German, others remain in English, reflecting strong ties to their countries of origin. Today, the cemetery forms an important part of Hoppegarten’s racing heritage, located within walking distance of the active racecourse.

Visitors are drawn to the graves of notable racing figures, and information boards are planned to provide historical context and biographies. Guided tours are also offered by the Kulturverein “Grünes Tor” Hoppegarten e.V.

Cemetery address

Rudolf-Breitscheid-Str. 1A
D 15366 Hoppegarten
Germany

Contact (Cultural Association "Green Gate" Hoppegarten eV)

Phone: (03342) 4253016
Email: gt-hoppegarten@gmx.de
Website: www.gruenestor.de

Basic data

Year of first burial: 1892
Cemetery area: 0.55ha
Approximate number of graves: 60
Approximate number of total yearly burials: 3

AGM 2025 report

On 4 September 2025, the ASCE Annual General Meeting took place in Dresden, Germany, organized by Women in Remembrance Culture (WIRC).

Over 60 participants joined the meeting and members' attendance quorum requirement was reached in the second call.

The AGM was preceded by Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, president of ASCE, and all steering committee members were present or gave proxy to other members. During the AGM several things were outlined and discussed:

1.Introduction

• Welcome speech by ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

2.Presidency and Steering Committee activities 2024/2025

• Steering Committee meetings and sessions
• AGM 2024 in Budapest, Hungary
• European Cemeteries Route received the Best Practice Award 2024
• Attendance at the All-Slovenian Cultural Routes meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Attendance at the International Conference on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Nova Gorica, Slovenia
• Attendance at the Conference Cemeteries and Other Spaces of Democratic Memory in Barcelona, Spain
• Attendance at the 12th Training Academy on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in Torres Vedras, Portugal
• Regular cooperation in the field of sustainable cemetery management with the Chamber of Public Utilities of Slovenia
• Attendance at the European heritage day in Oslo: At home in Europe.
• Charter development

3. Financial report and budget

4. ASCE administration and European Cemeteries Route activities 2024/2025

• Administration and presidency work overview
• IT maintainance and development:
• Improving communications channels
• Updating members data
• AGMs and Conference support
• Projects support
• ARTOUR development
• Cultural routes cooperation

5. Projects and activities

• Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe:
• 2024: Sustainable cities and communities
• 2025: Peace, justice and strong institutions
• 2026: Quality education
• Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2025: Gardens of 80
• Schools on cemeteries
• Peace tree
• Scientific work
• Communications

6. New members and significant cemeteries

7. AGM 2026: from 18 to 20 June in Turin, Italy

8. Conclusions

Members engaged in various debates on topics during and after the AGM, confirming the report and plans for the future work of ASCE. 

AGM materials

The detailed program and AGM presentation are available at this link. Photos, videos, and additional materials from the event will be released over the coming weeks.

Moravian God’s Acre Herrnhut Cemetery (Herrnhut, Germany)

Unique for its orderly layout, uniform gravestones, and gender-segregated sections, the cemetery embodies Moravian theology and community values.

Origins and layout

The God's Acre of Herrnhut was established in 1730, just eight years after the founding of the town. It is located at the foot of Hutberg Hill, where a wooden pavilion was erected in 1725 and later replaced by a new observation tower in 1908, which still stands today.

In 1731, the cemetery was bordered by an earth wall, and the first extensions became necessary in 1738 and 1741, with more following thereafter. In 1742, an avenue of lime trees was planted, connecting the cemetery with the town center.

The organization of the cemetery has been determined and monitored from the outset by the leadership of the congregation (initially the synod, now the council of elders). The site has remained intact, well maintained, and in continuous use from its beginnings to the present.

Burial practices

The first burial was that of the child Hans Beyer. From then on, members of the Moravian Church, newly founded by Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, were interred here.

From the beginning, the cemetery reflected Moravian theology and community values. Men and women were, and still are, buried in separate sections—women on the sisters’ side and men on the brothers’ side. There are no family graves. All gravestones are uniform and simple, regardless of wealth or social standing, usually inscribed only with names, dates, places of life, and a Bible verse.

The founder of the congregation was buried in the cemetery in 1760. His grave, along with those of several family members and companions, can be found along the cemetery’s main avenue, visually distinct from the other graves. At least two of these graves have crypts beneath them.

Significance and legacy

The Herrnhut cemetery holds exceptional importance for the Moravian Church community. On one hand, it is the final resting place of many notable figures from the founding period and later eras. On the other hand, it became a model for Moravian cemeteries worldwide and is considered one of the first systematically planned cemeteries in Europe.

Travel writers of the 18th century, such as Jean Paul, described Moravian cemeteries as remarkable and distinctive. In modern times, UNESCO has recognized the global legacy of Moravian settlements, beginning with Christiansfeld in Denmark (2015) and extending in 2024 to include Gracehill (UK), Bethlehem (USA), and Herrnhut (Germany), which together now form the transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site of Moravian Settlements.

Cemetery address

Berthelsdorfer Allee,
02747 Herrnhut,
Germany

Website

www.herrnhut.ebu.de/gottesacker/

Basic data

Date of first burial: 24.11.1730
Cemetery area: 4ha
Approximate number of graves: 6.200

AGM 2025: Sign up and Program

Registration is now open for the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2025. Check out the draft program!

Basic information

The AGM and Conference 2025 will be held from 4 to 6 September in Dresden, Germany, at multiple locations, with the main conference venue being the Kulturrathaus Dresden (Königstrasse 15, 01097 Dresden).

The gala dinner will be held at Eventlocation Kasematte by Convea Dresden (Hasenberg 1, 01067 Dresden), with the entrance to the vaulted casemates located at Am Hasenberg, opposite the New Synagogue.  

Participation in the cultural program on Thursday, 4 September, is optional and includes a boat trip departing from Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt (Terrassenufer 1, 01067 Dresden), as well as an excursion to the Heidefriedhof cemetery (Moritzburger Landstraße 299, 01127 Dresden), and dinner at Biergarten ElbeGarten (Friedrich-Wieck-Straße 18, 01326 Dresden).

REGISTRATION DEADLINE for Boat trip & Künstlerfriedhof Loschwitz: 15 August 2025.

The organizer of the event is “Women in Remembrance Culture (WIRC)”, from Dresden. For any questions or additional information please contact Valérie Madoka Naito at naito@wirc.network.

Conference theme

This year’s ASCE Annual Conference, themed "Future through Remembrance", invites participants to explore innovative ways of communicating cemetery heritage, especially in the context of WWII remembrance. The program will focus on storytelling, digital tools, partnerships, and strategies to bring cemetery stories to life and ensure they reach and resonate with wider audiences.

More about the conference theme at this LINK.
View the full conference program HERE.

How to register for the event

Registration for the AGM and Conference 2025 is possible only by using the following sign up form. If you wish to register more than one person, the form must be completed for each person separately. In order to ensure the smooth running of the event, the number of participants is limited.

Sign up deadline: 15 August 2025

➤ SIGN UP FORM

Details on fees and payment

To participate in the AGM and Conference, it is necessary to pay a registration fee. After completing the sign-up, each registered participant will receive a confirmation email and a separate email with payment instructions for the registration fee.

Estimated price list:

• Students - free (with a valid student ID card)
• ASCE members - 40€/person
• All others - 80€/person

The registration fee will be valid for the entire 2-day event program (Friday and Saturday), including the participation at the Conference, snacks and coffee breaks, gala dinner, and the excursion to the Cemetery Heidefriedhof.

The registration fee does not include the optional cultural program on Thursday (boat trip,  Künstlerfriedhof Loschwitz visit and dinner at  ElbeGarten beer garden).

AGM and Conference program

Program presented is a draft version and may be subject to changes or additions. Please consult our website regularly for the latest information.

You can view the details of individual parts of the program by clicking on the part that interests you.

You can click on this link (iCal) to add the program to your personal calendar.

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WDEC 2025 in Dresden

As part of WDEC 2025, the Inner Neustadt Cemetery in Dresden will host a special evening featuring a screening of the documentary GOING TO ÚSTÍ and an artist’s talk with Pastor Björn Fischer.

About the event

On the evening of May 29, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, the Inner Neustadt Cemetery in Dresden will host a special screening of the documentary GOING TO ÚSTÍ, followed by an artist’s talk with Pastor Björn Fischer. The event, organized by Women In Remembrance Culture, invites the public to reflect on forgotten histories, cultural memory, and the role of art in dealing with the past.

The documentary follows Dresden artist Susan Donath, who has been engaged with sepulchral culture for many years. In this short film, she is accompanied by documentary filmmaker Valérie Madoka Naito as she takes care of a German-Czech grave in the Střekov Cemetery in Ústí nad Labem, which she has been tending as part of an art project since 2008.

About the Střekov Cemetery

The Střekov Cemetery, the largest cemetery in Ústí nad Labem (Czech Republic), is divided into two areas: well-tended graves of the Czech population and crypts of the former German population. This division is particularly evident on the western wall of the cemetery. In the 19th century, crypts were built there, most of which were sold or leased to the German population until the beginning of the 20th century. In the wake of political events – the Munich Agreement of 1938 with the incorporation of the Sudeten German territories, the occupation of Bohemia by the German Wehrmacht in 1939 and the Second World War – the German population was expelled after 1945.

For the cemetery, this meant that almost all German graves had not been tended or maintained by their owners since 1945. The cemetery administration took care of the graves on a temporary basis. To this day, the question of what will happen to the graves remains unanswered.

Additional information

Contact person:

• Valérie Madoka Naito (naito@wirc.network)

Websites:

• www.wirc.network
• www.naito.eu
• www.susandonath.com
• www.die-bilder-kommen-zurück.com
• www.neustaedter-friedhoefe.de

Social media:

• @donath_susan 

Photos from the event

WDEC 2025 in Berlin

Explore the program of events taking place at various cemeteries in Berlin during the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2025 and later on.

23-24 May 2025

Be the first bird - Bird listening at St. Elisabeth II

• About the event: A nature education program for families, including an overnight stay.
• Schedule: Friday, 23 May at 17:00 to Saturday, 24 May at 08:00
• Location: Cemetery Chapel of St. Elisabeth II
• Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
• More information: https://evfbs.de/

23 May 2025

JAMES TURRELL - Light Art Presentation

• About the event: An art exhibition accompanied by an introductory lecture in German and English, held from Friday to Sunday at sunset (start times vary).
• Schedule: Friday, 23 May at 20:45
• Location: Dorotheenstädt Cemetery I
• Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
• More information: https://evfbs.de/

24 May 2025

For all eternity - A tour of the Dorotheenstädt Cemetery

• About the event: A guided tour exploring the history and significance of one of Berlin’s most renowned cemeteries.
• Schedule: Saturday, 24 May from 11:00 to 13:00
• Location: Dorotheenstädt Cemetery I
• Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
• More information: https://evfbs.de/

30-31 May 2025

Be the first bird - Bird listening at St. Elisabeth II

• About the event: A nature education program for families, including an overnight stay.
• Schedule: Friday, 30 May at 17:00 to Saturday, 31 May at 08:00 
• Location: Cemetery Chapel of St. Elisabeth II
• Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
• More information: https://evfbs.de/

31 May 2025

JAMES TURRELL - Light Art Presentation

• About the event: An art exhibition accompanied by an introductory lecture in German and English, held from Friday to Sunday at sunset (start times vary).
• Schedule: Saturday, 31 May at 20:45
• Location: Dorotheenstädt Cemetery I
• Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
• More information: https://evfbs.de/

1 June 2025

Guided tour of the Dorotheenstädt Cemetery

• About the event: Discover the stories and resting places of notable figures on a guided tour through this historic cemetery.
• Schedule: Sunday, 1 June at 15:00
• Location: Dorotheenstädt Cemetery I
• Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
• More information: https://evfbs.de/

More to come

Additional events are published on the website of the Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center: https://evfbs.de.

AGM 2025: Accommodation in Dresden

Accommodation options for the AGM 2025, taking place in Dresden, Germany, from 4 to 6 September.

Event date and locations

This year's AGM and Conference will take place from 4 to 6 September 2025 in Dresden, Germany.

The event will take place in the Kulturrathaus – a cultural center located at Königstraße 15, 01097 Dresden, Germany.

Conference theme

This year ASCE’s annual conference will focus on the theme "Future through Remembrance". Against the background of the end of World War II we want to focus on communication and interaction. You can find all the details HERE.

Accommodation suggestions

Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation for the AGM. To make this process as easy as possible, we have prepared a list of recommended hotels near the event venue. The list is available at the link below, where you can also make your reservation.

Nonetheless, staying at one of these hotels is not required. You are free to use booking platforms to find other accommodation options that better suit your needs.

➤ MAKE YOUR RESERVATION

ASCE Conference 2025: Call for papers

The theme of this year's conference is "Future through Remembrance". Presentation abstracts should be submitted by May 5, 2025.

Conference theme: Future through Remembrance

This year ASCE’s annual conference will focus on the theme "Future through Remembrance", a challenging subject for all the participants in the cemetery's heritage field. Against the background of the end of World War II we want to focus on communication and interaction.

• Get started transforming stories from your cemetery.
• Get your cemetery story told.
• Use IT and social media.
• Not get lost in your cemetery story archive.
• Find partners for your storytelling project.
• Finance your cemetery art or film project.
• Be strong in realizing your cemetery story project against all odds.

For more information about the content and about proposed ideas for the authors please find attached the link to a project on the victims of violence and war in Dresden’s cemeteries that has just been published by rhetorical City of Dresden: https://www.dresdner-friedhoefe.de.

Conference dates and location

The Conference will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 5-6, 2025, in Dresden, Germany.
The venue and event program will be released in the following weeks.

Proposals

Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words summarising your intended paper no later than Monday, May 5, 2025, by using the following form.

FORM FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS

Accepted authors will be notified by June 15, 2025.

Conference papers

Presentations should last no longer than 15 minutes, excluding questions.

We are seeking speakers with practical knowledge or experience who can communicate interesting and diverse presentations to the international audience.

The conference language is English. 

Editorial board

• Prof. Thomas Kübler, phd
• Ian Dungavell, phd
• Andreea Pop, phd
• Ioanna Paraskevopoulou, phd

Further information

For any questions, please contact Andreea Pop at andreea@significantcemeteries.org.

AGM 2025: Save the date

This year's AGM and Conference will take place from 4 to 6 September 2025 in Dresden, Germany.

About the AGM and Conference

Each year, the Annual General Meeting attracts over 100 cemetery academics, artists and professionals from all over Europe. It generates a lot of public attention and through the conference helps expose important topics on cemetery's history, art, architecture, cultural heritage, sustainability, management, and future trends.

AGM 2025 in Dresden

After 20 years, the ASCE Annual General Meeting and Conference will once again be held in Germany, this time in the historic and vibrant city of Dresden.

Mark your calendars from 4 to 6 September 2025, and join us for an inspiring program filled with engaging discussions, cultural highlights, and meaningful networking opportunities.

A call for papers, as well as all the details about the event program, accommodation, and other logistics, will be released in the coming months, so don't forget to check our website for updates.

We look forward to seeing you in September, at the AGM 2025.

ASCE presidency

Discover Dresden

WDEC 2024 at cemeteries in Berlin

Explore the varied program of events that will take place in different cemeteries in Berlin in May and June 2024.

Friday, May 24th

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Saturday, May 25th

➤ Herbal tours with Silke Schoppe
Location: Old Cemetery St. Marien – St. Nikolai
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Sound in the light - Music at the blue hour
Location: Chapel at the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Sunday, May 26th

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ VHS offer: Birdwatching tour at Bergmannstrasse cemeteries
Location: Trinity Cemetery II
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Cemetery tours in front of Hallesches Tor with Norbert Haag
Location: Cemeteries at Hallesches Tor
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Tuesday, May 28th

➤ Nature-based after-work walk with NABU
Location: Old Luisenstadt Cemetery
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Wednesday, May 29th

➤ Guided tours of the Brecht-Weigel Museum through the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery
Location: Inner courtyard of the Brecht House
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Friday, May 31st

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Saturday, June 1st

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Sunday, June 2nd

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Guided tour of the Old Luisenstadt Cemetery with Jakob Preuss
Location: Old Luisenstadt Cemetery
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Cemetery tours in front of Hallesches Tor with Norbert Haag
Location: Cemeteries at Hallesches Tor
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Wednesday, June 5th

➤ Guided tours of the Brecht-Weigel Museum through the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery
Location: Inner courtyard of the Brecht House
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Friday, June 7th

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Saturday, June 8th

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Long day of urban nature - cemetery of course!
Nature discoveries and practical tips.
Location: Old Luisenstadt Cemetery
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Music from the 13th and 17th centuries - played by the Trecento group
Location: Chapel at Friedrichswerder Cemetery, Kreuzberg
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Sunday, June 9th

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Long day of urban nature - Cemetery habitat - tour with Ronald Kroth (NABU)
Environmental education, nature conservation and art in the cemeteries on Seestrasse.
Location: Cemeteries St. Johannis II - Nazareth I - St. Paul
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Long day of urban nature - Rainwater management and climate adaptation measures in cemeteries
Location: Georgen-Parochial Cemetery II
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Guided tour with Uwe Lüdemann through the Cemetery Trinity II in Bergmannstrasse
Location: Cemetery Trinity II
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Cemetery tours in front of Hallesches Tor with Norbert Haag
Location: Cemeteries at Hallesches Tor
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Long day of urban nature - A paradise for bees
Environmental education at the cemetery.
Location: Cemetery Dorotheenstadt III
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Wednesday, June 12th

➤ Guided tours of the Brecht-Weigel Museum through the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery
Location: Inner courtyard of the Brecht House
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Friday, June 14th

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Saturday, June 15th

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ The art of farewell - Art therapy for those who mourn
Location: Cemetery Chapel at Friedrichswerder Cemetery, Kreuzberg
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Sunday, June 16th

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Cemetery tours in front of Hallesches Tor with Norbert Haag
Location: Cemeteries at Hallesches Tor
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Wednesday, June 19th

➤ Guided tours of the Brecht-Weigel Museum through the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery
Location: Inner courtyard of the Brecht House
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Friday, June 21st

➤ JAMES TURRELL - Light art presentation
Art exhibition with introductory lecture in German and English from Friday to Sunday at sunset (changing start times).
Location: Dorotheenstadt Cemetery I
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

➤ Cemetery night at Sophien II
Cultural program and illuminations until sunset.
Location: Cemetery Sophien II
Organizer: Evangelical Cemetery Association of Berlin City Center
Further information at https://evfbs.de/

Unveiling the restored grave complexes in Kreuzberg cemeteries

On April 9, 2024, a wonderful celebration and opening took place at the Alter Luisenstädtischer and Dreifaltigkeit II cemetery in Berlin, Germany.

About the event

On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the Evangelischer Friedhofsverband Berlin Stadtmitte unveiled the results of completed restoration work on two remarkable historical grave complexes in the Kreuzberg cemeteries on Bergmannstrasse, along with their innovative repurposing concepts.

Superintendent Dr. Silke Radosh-Hinder dedicated the monumental grave site of the Löblich-Liebau Family at Alter Luisenstädtischer Cemetery to serve as an open-air chapel for funeral services.

The Kunzemann-Bornhagen Mausoleum, meticulously restored in the Dreifaltigkeit II Cemetery, now functions as a mourning farewell room. Here, relatives can spend precious additional time in a dignified ambiance bidding farewell to their departed loved ones.

Funding for these restoration projects was provided by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM), the Berlin State Monuments Office (LDA), and the German Foundation for Monument Protection (DSD), along with contributions from the Evangelischer Friedhofsverband of Berlin Stadtmitte.

Event photos:

UNESCO initiative from Germany

The "Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur" invites you to join the initiative "Intangible cultural heritage: Cemetery culture in Europe".

About the initiative

Cemetery culture is part of the "Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage" in Germany. It refers to the architecture of cemeteries, burial practices and mourning and commemoration rituals. Associated craft techniques and customs preserve this cultural form and ensure the maintenance of the cemeteries.

The official partner of the German UNESCO Commission for the care, preservation and further development of this intangible cultural heritage is the "Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur". This non-profit association is now reaching for a UNESCO nomination of "Intangible cultural heritage:  Cemetery culture in Europe" as a common initiative of several European countries. To achieve this aim, it is necessary that other European countries obtain the Intangible Cultural Heritage status for their national cemetery culture.

Call for cooperation

The Kuratorium is now looking for European partners. If you are interested in collaboration, please contact Tobias Pehle (director of the Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur) at info@kulturerbe-friedhof.de or +49 163 171 70 39 925.

The official call for cooperation can be found HERE.

*Photo by Tobias Pehle, source https://www.unesco.de/en/culture-and-nature/intangible-cultural-heritage/cemetery-culture

WDEC 2023 at the Inner Neustadt Cemetery

We invite you to a presentation of three short films that will take place at the Inner Neustadt Cemetery in Dresden, Germany.

On Friday, 26 May 2023, at 7pm, a presentation of three short films will take place at the Inner Neustadt Cemetery, carried out by Valérie Madoka Naito.

The films that will be presented are:

1. "Death Never Dies" from Valérie Madoka Naito. It is a film essay from 2011 about a Cemetery at Dillingen Saar and starts with the story of a man who has just returned in 1956 from Russian captivity and finds his name on this graveyard.

2. "Agnosis" from Anita Müller. The film was awarded the German Short film prize in 2012 in Munich. The experimental film is about a student in Odessa who descends into the familiar catacombs of a former mine to meditate on Orthodox Christmas Day 2012. Since then, he has disappeared without a trace.

3. "Dead At The Moment" from Thomas Wendrich. The film won 1st prize at Interfilm Festival Berlin in 2004. It tells the story of strong-minded hillbillies in a cross-generational comedy. The characters reveal to us in a farmer's kitchen with a mischievous wink that the family has recently had to cope with small and larger catastrophes, disappointments, and setbacks in life. The main character, the slightly age-addled farmer Franz, is still so strong in his senses that he can enjoy the "autumn sun" of his life.

You can find more information about the event at www.naito.eu.

ASCE at International Tourism Fare in Berlin

Presented at the stand of Kulturrouten des Europarats in Deutschland.

ASCE at the Open Day in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany

On the 25th of August there will be an "Open Day in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany" in Berlin.

The Old South Cemetery (Munich, Germany)

The Old South Cemetery (“Alter Südlicher Friedhof”) was established in 1563, during the reign of Henry V, the Duke of Bavaria.

The cemetery was located outside the city gates for victims of the plague. In addition to plague victims, initially poor people, social outsiders and suicides were buried there. Protestants and Jews were denied the burial at first. In 1789 burials within the city walls were generally prohibited by order of Elector Karl Theodor II. It was then that the Old South Cemetery became the Central Cemetery of Munich.

Today the Old South Cemetery is defined as a Historical Cemetery and it is one of the oldest existing cemeteries in the city of Munich. With its 450-year history it has great significance for the city of Munich and beyond.

Basic data

The cemetery covers 95.000 m2 and it once included about 20.000 graves but there are only 5.000 tombs preserved today. The predominant nationality of the deceased is German, while the predominant religions are Catholic and Protestant. People of Muslim, Jewish and Orthodox religions are also buried there. Since 1944 burials are no longer carried out in the cemetery.

Important graves and monuments

• Ellen Ammann
• Friedrich von Gärtner
• Leo von Klenze
• Ludwig von Schwanthaler
• Ferdinand von Miller

Management of the cemetery

When the Old South Cemetery became the Central Cemetery of Munich, the management of cemeteries in Munich was completely transferred from the church in state hands. In 1818, with the new Bavarian Constitutional, the city of Munich received its local self-determination and thus the management of cemeteries in Munich.

Today, the Old South Cemetery is owned and managed by The City of Munich, Department of Health and Environment and it is protected by nature conservation and monument preservation. Since 1973 the cemetery has been registered in its entirety, including funeral monuments, in the list of important monuments in Bavaria. Since 1989 it is also a protected landscape.

Cemetery design

In 1818, the cemetery was fundamentally redesigned by Gustav Vorherr and Friedrich von Sckell and received its present form and shape. In 1850 the cemetery by Friedrich von Gärtner has been extended to the new part of the cemetery in the form of "Campo Santo". With the opening of the forest cemetery in 1907 the formation of new graves was no longer allowed in the Old Southern Cemetery. In 1943 the area was heavily damaged by bombing and since 1944 burials are no longer carried out in this cemetery. In 1953 the architect Hans Döllgast began with the restoration of the cemetery in the form of "interpretative reconstruction".

Significant aspects of the cemetery

The Old South Cemetery is a historic graveyard of European importance. The collection of historically important arts and tombs is unique - it is like a big open-air museum. At the same time, the cemetery is with its diversity of plants and animals a green oasis of great ecological importance for the city. Today, the Old Southern Cemetery is an eminent place in the Munich city center - for local people as well as for tourists.

Conservation and preservation

For the purposes of preservation and conservation of the Old South Cemetery, some projects have been carried out in recent years and will be continued also in the future. Around 3,000 tombs have been renovated since 2004 in terms of their stability. About 60 individual monuments were restored. Parallel to the renovations, a scientifically supported inventory of all tombs in the Old South Cemetery took place between 2004 and 2007. Also an inventory of the existing flora and fauna in the cemetery was conducted until 2013.

Cemetery address

Thalkirchner Straße 17,
80337 München,
Germany

Management adress

Landeshauptstadt München,
Referat für Gesundheit und Umwelt
Städtische Friedhöfe München,
Damenstiftstraße 8 80331 München,
Germany

Management contacts

T: +49 (0) 89 23199 201
E: staedtische-friedhoefe.rgu@muenchen.de

St. Nicholas and St. Mary Cemetery (Berlin, Germany)

St. Nicholas and St. Mary Cemetery is devided in the old and new part, named St. Nicholas and St. Mary Cemetery I and St. Nicholas and St. Mary Cemetery II.

About the cemetery

The St. Nicholas and St. Mary Cemetery I is located in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district of Pankow. It is right on the Prenzlauer Allee and is the final resting place for the parishioners of Mary and St. Nicholas' Church.

The opening of this cemetery dates back to the year 1802. At that time, however, the cemetery covered only a very small area, so that an extension was necessary already in 1814 and then again in 1847. This area is referred to as the Old Cemetery of St. Nicholas and St. Mary's church.

Another acquisition in 1858, covered the area of Prenzlauer Allee No. 7, which today is the St. Nicholas and St. Mary Cemetery II or the New Cemetery of St. Nicholas and St. Mary's church.

Together, the two cemeteries comprise an area of approximately 65,000 square meters.

Cemetery address

Prenzlauer Allee 1 / Prenzlauer Allee 7
10405 Berlin
Germany