Book launch: „Koloniales Erbe in Thüringen“

Since the end of 2021, the coordination centre has brought together academic, civil society and political actors, institutions and initiatives to make the traces of the colonial past visible in Thuringia's historical collections, cityscape and social interaction. The anthology is the result of the diverse exchange of recent years on the topics of (de)coloniality and "colonial heritage" with a focus on the local, Thuringia's entanglements in colonial structures in the global. The contributions range from the early modern period to the transformation period. The book takes stock of current research initiatives at Thuringian universities as well as the socio-political perspectives of decolonial initiatives and artists. The link between science, activism and Arts in the work of the Coordination Centre is reflected in the anthology: As artist-in-residence, the Black activist Patricia Vester accompanied the activities of the coordination centre from 2022 to 2023 and illustrated the volume with the works created in the process.

In the book discussion, we will present the contents of the anthology together with the authors and reflect on the current state of the debate on "colonial heritage" in Thuringia. We would like to take the end of the first funding phase of the  coordination centre as an opportunity to take stock and look ahead to future projects and collaborations. The current state election results in Thuringia make it necessary for us to also address the new and already known challenges in dealing with the colonial past.

The anthology can be purchased on site at a price of 32 euros.

Programme

6–16.30 pm

• welcome of the guests by the coordinators Dr Sahra Rausch and Elena M. E. Kiesel
• welcome address by Dr Michael Edinger (Thuringian Ministry for Economis Affairs, Science and Digital Society)
• comment: Vice-Presidency, University of Jena
• comment: Professor André Brodocz, Vice President for Research and Academic Careers at the University of Erfurt

6.30–6.45 pm
intro: performance Patricia Vester

6.45–7.30 pm
book discussion with Ronald Hirte (Education Department, Buchenwald Memorial), Dr Urs Lindner (University of Duisburg-Essen, formerly of Decolonize Erfurt), Professor Kim Siebenhüner (Friedrich Schiller University of Jena), Dr Florian Wagner (University of Erfurt) and Dr Patrice Poutrus (University of Osnabrück)
moderation: Elena M. E. Kiesel and Dr Sahra Rausch

7.30–7.45 pm
outro: performance Patricia Vester

from 7.45 pm
Champagne reception in the IBZ
(if interested: dinner together afterwards)

Please register for the event until 24 November 2024 at koloniales-erbe-thueringen@uni-erfurt.de.