Remembering for Later

On Sunday 3 May, Museum aan de A and the University of Groningen are organising an inspiring thematic afternoon at the Atheater, where personal experiences, historical reflection and academic research come together. Questions such as “what does freedom mean today?”, “which stories endure?”, “which stories are told, which are not, and which fade into the background?” and “how does heritage actually come into being?” will be explored.

Programme

Theatre maker Abdulaal Hussein will give a Freedom Lecture in which he speaks about his flight from Sudan in 2016 and his life in the Netherlands since then. He shares his personal story in the hope of fostering greater understanding for refugees.

The recently released documentary De Vrouwenmars shows how some stories are only recognised much later. The film is based on seven diaries, wartime accounts and an audio recording from 1985 with a directly involved witness. The filmmakers show that for many families, the war was far from over after liberation. They also explore why this story remained largely unknown for decades.

Manuela Ritondale, Mayada Madbouly and Shanade Barnabas, researchers from the Critical Heritage Studies theme group of the University of Groningen’s Heritage Pasts and Futures Collective, will then take participants to the Museum of the Future. In a creative workshop, they explore with participants how heritage is formed and what role we ourselves play in this process.

Guitarist Lieuwe Medema will provide musical interludes that add an extra layer to the afternoon. We will conclude with drinks and an opportunity to meet and talk.

This event connects to 80 Years of Freedom Groningen (2025), a year-long programme of activities dedicated to remembrance, celebration and connection.

Practical information

Sunday 3 May

1.30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Atheater, Akerkstraat 11, Groningen

Registration via info@80jaarvrijheidgroningen.nl (please include your name and number of participants).