The TRAWOS Institute at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with Rohnstock Biografien and the Kraftwerk Hirschfelde Foundation, is hosting a storytelling salon followed by a discussion on the power of storytelling and its significance for the Lausitz.

In the first part of the event, people from Lausitz will share, as part of a storytelling salon, their unique experiences in this region—with a focus on Görlitz—and discuss how these experiences have shaped their lives. The focus will be particularly on situations of change characterized by dynamism, unpredictability, and improvisation.

The following individuals have already confirmed their participation as storytellers:

Agnieszka Gąsior, Director of the Silesian Museum in Görlitz

Anja Nixdorf Munkwitz, HirschfeldeFoundation and “Ein Korb voll Glück”

Axel Krüger, entrepreneur and spokesperson for the association “MOTOR Görlitz Local Political Network”

Prof. Bodo Lochmann, former university professor in Zittau, later Rector of the DKU in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Christoph Scholze, who previously served as deputy chairman of the works council at Siemens Görlitz and is currently branch manager of Grantiro Initiative GmbH

Hannelore Klar, works for the employment office

Prof. Wilhelm Riesner, an expert in energy economics

The unique situation of the city of Görlitz and the related similarities and differences on both the German and Polish sides provide the ideal foundation for a fruitful exchange. Following the storytelling salon, there will be a discussion with the audience on whether and how collective storytelling formats can help promote participation, self-efficacy, and creativity at the local level, as well as initiate and support processes of social change.

Katrin Rohnstock, who developed the “Erzählsalon” format 20 years ago, will personally discuss its development process, the basic principles of its implementation, how it works, and her experiences, drawing on practical examples, including some from Lausitz. Prof. Raj Kollmorgen and his research team from the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences—Dr. Thomas Prennig and Emilia Socha—will discuss how the “Erzählsalon” can be classified from a scientific perspective. The project examined the conversation format “Erzählsalon” recently on behalf of the Federal Commissioner for Eastern Germany and assessed its potential for integration into a future standard framework.

Anyone interested in oral storytelling, biographical work, or collective histories is cordially invited to this informational evening. Admission is free.

Please register in advance!