Polyester and Propaganda

This one-year project will examine the various developments in everyday culture in western and eastern Germany between the end of World War II and the construction of the Berlin Wall (1945-1961). The partner cities of Hildesheim and Halle will compare the social developments of the 1950s in parallel presentations which will initiate numerous cooperative cultural projects. Organisers in both cities will collect items for a cultural historic exhibition, organise discussion groups and evening readings, produce self-published newspapers and radio broadcasts, show series of films, initiate school and amateur theatre projects, and invite a variety of groups (e.g., senior citizen associations) to develop their own theme evenings. These project-related activities are designed to involve all generations where younger people can learn with and from those who witnessed the past.

Applicant: KulturFabrik e.V., Hildesheim (Lower Saxony)
Project partner: Corax e.V., Halle (Saxony-Anhalt)
Venues and schedule: parallel presentations in Hildesheim and Halle for one year, 2005