introduction
Fifty years after the death of Francisco Franco— marking the end of the last authoritarian regime in Southern Europe— memory remains a deeply contested terrain. This international gathering brings together historians, artists, curators, and memory practitioners to reflect on the enduring legacies of fascist and military dictatorships in Spain, Portugal, and Greece. The discussion will highlight how the democratic transitions that followed the end of the dictatorships paved the way for these countries’ subsequent accession to the European Union.
From transnational historical perspectives to innovative artistic interventions, the program offers a day of dialogue, critical reflection, and exchange. How can we communicate the violence and repression of the past to new generations? What role does dissonant heritage play in shaping democratic memory today? And how can European experiences inspire renewed strategies for remembrance and resistance?
Hosted in Brussels, the event is jointly organized by the European Observatory on Memories( EUROM) and the House of European History( HEH), with the support of the Spanish Government under the program“ Spain in Freedom: 50 Years”.
Programme
9 a. m. | Registration / Arrival of participants
9.30 a. m. | Welcome words
Constanze Itzel( House of European History) Jordi Guixé( European Observatory on Memories – EUROM) Almudena Cruz Yábar( Spain State Secretariat for Democratic Memory) Carlos Moreno Blanco( Spain Secretary General for the European Union)
10 am | The Spanish dictatorship in comparative perspective: a transnational dialogue with leading historians of European authoritarianism Angel Viñas, Historian and Diplomat( Spain) Laure Neumayer, Professor, Université de Picardie Jules Verne( France) Victor Fernández Soriano, Professor, ULB( Belgium)
1.45 pm – Curated tour to the temporary exhibition“ Presence of the past” with standing guides
Introduction by Simina Badica( House of European History)
Dora Ivanova( Buzludzha Project, Bulgaria) Marije Hristova( CSIC, Spain) Anne Thomas( Stolpersteine, Germany) Chantal Kesteloot( State Archives, Belgium)
3pm – Re-signifying European dissonant heritage. Lessons to be learned for the Spanish case
A panel about European sites of contested memory as inspiration to re-significate dissonant heritage in Spain
Ayoko Mensah( House of European History) Rita Rato( Museu do Aljube, Portugal) Christian Dürr( Mauthausen Memorial) Magda Fytili( Contemporary Social History Archives of Greece, ASKI).
Chaired by Paco Ferrándiz( Spanish National Research Council – CSIC)
4.30 pm – Coffee break
5 pm –“ Exilio”
A multilingual performance reflecting on historical and contemporary exile in Europe
With Nora Buschmann( guitar) and Alex Brendemühl( acting). Directed by Lalo García and produced by Txell Sabartés
5.45 pm – Closing words and end of the conference
Follow the outcomes related to this event on europeanmemories. net
Cover image: Photograph by Guillermo Armengol. Festival of the Iberian Peoples, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, May 10, 1976.
Chaired by Sigfrido Ramirez, MMC-ULB( Belgium)
11.30 am | Innovative strategies for communicating memories of dictatorships and public crimes: Art as a medium of intervention and critical engagement
Survey This activity is co-financed by the European Commission and for its evaluation we kindly ask your collaboration in filling out this survey. It will take about 10 minutes, and you will need the information indicated below. Thank you very much!
Fernando Sánchez Castillo, artist( Spain) Cristina Lucas, artist( Spain)
Chaired by Anna Tilroe, art critic and curator( The Netherlands)
Reference of the Project: 101194553 Type of activity: Mutual Learning Title: 50 years after Franco