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.

The program is a cooperation with Cultural Vistas, a nonprofit exchange organization promoting global understanding and collaboration among individuals and institutions.

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 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 culturally tolerant 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 German-focused and one American-focused professional exchange. Participants of each program 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, grassroots or democratic strategic plan, or other) – that advances an inclusive and tolerant culture of remembrance. The results will be made publicly available on the websites of Cultural Vistas and the Heinrich Böll Stiftung and should be presented on the websites and social media sites of participants and/or participants’ respective organizations, if possible.
• 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 maintain dialog beyond the period of the program.

The 2022 DAICOR program includes travel to Berlin and Hamburg, as well as to Montgomery, Alabama, Washington, DC, and Virginia. You can follow the tour on our social media pages!

You can find information on the 2021 DAICOR Fellows here.