Exhibitions

31 October to 29 November 2025

As part of the German-Polish Week of Encounter and Reconciliation (16-23 November 2025), a special exhibition dedicated to the history of German-Polish reconciliation after the Second World War will be on display. The focus is on the letters written by Polish and German bishops in 1965, which are regarded as a groundbreaking sign of forgiveness and a new beginning in Europe. In these letters, the Polish bishops wrote the key words: ‘We forgive and ask for forgiveness.’

The exhibition was conceived by the Centre for Remembrance and Future (Ośrodek "Pamięć i Przyszłość") in Wrocław (Poland) and sheds light on the origins, historical context and impact of this unique correspondence and illustrates how words of reconciliation became a lasting foundation for understanding and peace between Poland and Germany. Dr Wojciech Kucharski is responsible for the content. A strategic partner is the Historical Archive of the Archdiocese of Cologne, which is making the original letter available for the exhibition.

Location: Collegium Polonicum, Kościuszki 1, Słubice, Poland

Languages: German and English

29 October to 30 November 2025

The exhibition shows the winning works of the Franco-German Photo Competition 2025 and invites visitors to engage with the issues of coexistence, tolerance and understanding in a variety of ways. Under the motto "Peace", students from Germany and France will present their artistic perspectives.

The renowned competition is organised by the Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW) in cooperation with the French partner institution Cnous and with the kind support of the Franco-German Youth Office (DFJW). The aim of the annual initiative is to promote cultural and creative exchange between students from both countries and to encourage young people to address current social issues artistically and bridge borders. Find out more about the competition.

Location: Main Building (HG) in front of the library, Große Scharrnstraße 59, Frankfurt (Oder)

24 October to 21 November 2025

War changes the way we view the world – this is clearly evident in the work of Ukrainian icon painter Danylo Movchan, whose style has changed significantly since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In addition to classic, Christian-influenced motifs, depictions from everyday life during wartime appear; recent works address flight, death, and human suffering.

The exhibition presents selected works by Movchan in dialogue with works by other artists who respond artistically to the visual language and the theme of war.

A project by Ukrainian and German volunteers together with university chaplain René Pachmann, the cultural coordinator of the European University Viadrina, Constance Krüger, and the association Helping Hands Blaue Brücke e.V.

The vernissage will take place on 24 October at 6 p.m.

Location: Magistrale Kunsthalle, Karl-Marx-Str. 192, Frankfurt (Oder)

Online exhibition

They all study or work here, are part of the Viadrina, the Viadrina is part of their lives. They characterise this place with their interests, their commitment and their diversity. They are enthusiastic and drive ideas and projects forward here. So far so similar, same same, they are part of the Viadrina family.

But they also face challenges here, realise that the conditions for studying and working here are not the same for everyone, encounter inequalities and unequal treatment and reflect on them. Perhaps they miss something in common, perhaps they want change or visibility for their concerns. But different: they are also different.

In the exhibition, ten people from the Viadrina have their say, tell their stories, what moves them, what they want, what ideas they have for the future of the Viadrina and how we can move closer together so that our university is a place where we all enjoy studying and working. What unites us? What university culture do we want to promote? Who is seen, who is less visible or not visible at all? What is the same (same same), what is different (but different), what view do they have of the Viadrina (insights) and in which direction do they want to move forward (outlooks)?

Online exhibition

As part of the seminar „Female Ancestors in Photographs and Documents“, a research project began at the Faculty of Cultural Studies at the European University Viadrina in the summer semester of 2023, under the direction of lecturer PD Dr Izabella Parowicz, in which students created a biography of a female ancestor living in the first half of the 20th century.

After this seminar was completed, three of the participants from the seminar (Anna Beuchel, Jan Hoffmann and Maria Siegele), together with a new student (Emilia Zimmermann), attended the subsequent course „Female Ancestors in Photographs and Documents – Exhibition Project“ in the winter semester 2023/24. The aim of this seminar was to create a website from the previously compiled biographies in order to create a digital exhibition project for internal and external visitors to the university.

The online exhibition shows historical images including accompanying texts in German and Polish and invites visitors to discover and remember. Over the course of the year, image galleries, videos and continuing stories will complement the digital offering and allow visitors to experience the history of Viadrina and the many people who have built and shaped the university since it was founded.