FREE_ARTIFACTORY’s volunteer @74th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp

ARTIFACTORY is happy to announce the participation of volunteer Dimitris Lambros from Arta region in this year’s educational trip to the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp organized by ANED Milano (Italian Association of Deportees in Nazi camps) which is held from May 3rd to May 5th 2019 in the framework of the project FREE- no Future without RemEmbrancE”. He will attend the ceremony and visit places of memory, along with students from Italy. He will document the events and historical sites to create a multimedia experience he will present at the international work camp in Kommeno in August. His participation is made possible with the STEP grant of European Cultural Foundation and Compagnia di San Paolo

Artifactory is a partner in the project FREE-FREE Future without Remembrance”, co-funded by the European Commission under Strand 1 of the Europe for Citizens Program, European Memory.

Dimitris racontes his experience:

Sunday, May 19, 2019 

On the 2nd of May, I set out to Austria to participate in a multicultural project in the framework of “FREE- no Future without RemEmbrancE”, ‘Europe for Citizens project with groups of young people from all over Milano. It was my first time travelling outside my home country and being a part of such projects. 

This travel made me interact with all sorts of people and different cultures, get knowledge on the history of various places and people, reflect on past events and be concerned about contemporary social issues. The trip started after meeting the group and setting off to Austria by bus. The first interactions were exciting and precious, I really loved the company of the young people I met from the start. I joined with the FREE group that I was assigned to, that was my closest company for the rest of the trip. In Austria, we visited historical sites such as Hartheim Castle, Linz Forced Labour Museum, Gusen and most importantly Mauthausen. As we would get informed about historical events, the more passion I could sense from the people there. Passion, grief, sadness but also empowerment and hope. From all the talks I had during the trip, I got to understand their concerns about Italy’s current political scene and youth problems, especially for young artists. This is the kind of knowledge that I love the most, from direct citizen engagement. I am interested to express and engage in conversation with people from other cultures. 

If it were not for STEP Travel Grants I would not be able to engage in this series of events regarding European remembrance, and as an extension, participate in the upcoming project in Kommeno “FREE- no Future without RemEmbrancE” memory event in August 2019. 

From my new connections, I got to learn about youth groups, art projects, events, life in Milano and about deep cultural roots regarding Italy as a whole. It helped straighten my feelings towards what happened at the sites we visited, and sympathise with the people that were around me. Regarding personal connections, I got to meet and interact with young artists, teachers and lovely people and got to experience their sense of hospitality. I am really grateful for the new connections I made. 

Now, as a photographer, I will prepare a multimedia presentation for Kommeno memory event, where a number of the people I met will be coming for the studycamp, just like I did. As for future collaborations from my new connections, I am certain there will be plenty. 

This was a big push for me as an individual, a citizen and an artist. I am grateful and wholeheartedly thank every person and organization who helped me in order to make this trip: the European Cultural Foundation and Compagnia di San Paolo, ANED Milano, FREE- no Future without RemEmbrancE, Artifactory and big thanks to Photini Papahatzi 

#artifactory #free #nofuturewithoutremembrance #europeanculturalfoundation #compagniadiSanPaolo

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