Remembrance as a Guide for the Future: Exhibition “Against Forgetting – For Peace and Solidarity in Europe” Opened at City Hall

As part of the program marking of the Siege of Sarajevo (1992–1995), the exhibition “Against Forgetting – For Peace and Solidarity in Europe” was officially opened today at City Hall.

The event was organized by the City of Sarajevo, the association “Education Builds Bosnia and Herzegovina – Jovan Divjak,” and Sarajevo Public Enterprise.

The exhibition presents the result of the work of 178 young people from 14 countries, who took on the role of curators with the aim of exploring the culture of remembrance and confronting the past. During six exchanges held in cities such as Sarajevo, Budapest, Nuremberg, and Avignon, participants analysed mechanisms of violence and war crimes of the 20th century—from the Second World War to the genocide in Srebrenica.

The exhibition goes beyond the boundaries of artistic expression and delivers a powerful message from younger generations who are taking responsibility for preserving the truth about the past. A special focus is placed on the Siege of Sarajevo, which—through court documentation and testimonies—has been recognized as a campaign of terror against the civilian population, with no safe place to live.

The Mayor of Sarajevo, Samir Avdić, emphasized the importance of this initiative at the opening ceremony:

“This exhibition is the culmination of the courageous journey of young people who, by exploring the darkest moments of history, have chosen to become guardians of truth. You are a network of ambassadors ensuring that the lessons learned in Sarajevo become a guiding path toward a better Europe.”

Sanjin Hamidičević, Deputy Executive Director of the association “Education Builds Bosnia and Herzegovina – Jovan Divjak,” highlighted that the goal of the project is to raise awareness about the consequences of hatred and intolerance. He also recalled the spirit of resistance in Sarajevo and the role of women during the siege, quoting the association’s founder, the late General Jovan Divjak: “The army defended Sarajevo, but women saved it.”

The young participants themselves assumed the role of curators, transforming archival research into a multimedia exhibition available in seven languages, accompanied by a podcast in English.

The opening program was enriched by a poetic performance by high school students, developed in cooperation with the British organization “Never Such Innocence,” as well as a screening of a short film about the exchanges, accompanied by a musical performance by the Accordion Quintet of the Sarajevo Secondary Music School. The official program concluded with a performance by the vocal ensemble Corona, bringing audiences closer to the experience of international exchanges.

The exhibition was attended by numerous representatives of authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and members of the diplomatic corps, including members of the British Parliament, who, accompanied by the mayor, toured City Hall and the ICTY Information Centre Sarajevo.

The implementation of this complex project is the result of cooperation among seven partner organizations from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, France, and Hungary, with key support from the European Union through the CERV program, the City of Sarajevo, and numerous other donors.

After Sarajevo, the exhibition will continue its journey across Bosnia and Herzegovina and throughout Europe, carrying a message of peace and shared values.

More information about the project is available at: www.against-forgetting.eu.