Center for Studies of Memory Policy and Public History "Mnemonics"

We carry out scientific studies in memory policy and public history. We search, develop, and promote implementation of optimal democratic models of historical policy in Ukraine.

About us

Who we are
NGO "Center for Studies of Memory Policy and Public History "Mnemonics" is a voluntary, independent, self-governing non-profit public association whose main purpose is scientific studies in memorial policy and public history, search, development, and promotion of optimal democratic models in the field of memory policy of Ukraine. The Center was established on January 28, 2016 on the initiative of Rivne historians – Maksym Gon, Petro Dolhanov, and Nataliia Ivchyk.
Our mission
We promote formation of inclusive memory culture in Ukraine

What do we do?

Main directions of our activity
  • Introducing
    We introduce the citizens of Ukraine to the memory culture of EU countries
    01
  • Teaching
    We teach basic approaches to memory studies.
    02
  • Consolidation
    We promote social consolidation and conflict resolution based on the memory of different social groups.
    03
  • Education
    We promote the cultivation of values of tolerance.
    04

How do we do this?

Forms of our work
  • 1
    Memorialization
    We set up memorial signs dedicated to the history of non-dominant social groups. We also form an inclusive memorial space in Ukrainian cities.
  • 2
    Modern educational tools
    We create modern educational tools for schools and universities for the study of multicultural history of Ukraine.
  • 3
    Non-formal education
    We organize summer schools, workshops, trainings, and educational seminars on historical topics.
  • 4
    Academic studies
    We organize academic conferences, round tables, prepare and publish scientific articles and monographs.
  • 5
    Commemoration
    We introduce new commemorative practices in urban spaces. These practices are consistent with the mission and values of the organization.

Our values

What distinguishes us
Freedom
Tolerance
Understanding
Responsibility
Our team
Staff of the Center
  • Maksym Gon
    Director of the Center,
    Chairman of the Expert Council of the Center
  • Nataliia Ivchyk
    Chairperson of the Board of the Center,
    member of the Expert Council of the Center
  • Petro Dolganov
    member of the Expert Council of the Center
  • Viacheslav Dolid
    member of the Supervisory Board of the Center
  • Volodymyr Zyl
    member of the Supervisory Board of the Center
  • Dmytro Aladko
    member of the Center,
    expert in translation
  • Iryna Zakharchuk
    member of the Expert Council of the Center
  • Tetyana Vodotyka
    member of the Expert Council of the Center
  • Alla Hnatiuk
    accounting support

Our achievements

What we are proud of
6
years of successful work
(since January 28, 2016)
7
members with academic degrees and dozens of years of teaching experience in higher education make the expert core of the organization
6
Nationwide Conferences "Memory Policy in Theoretical and Practical Dimensions"
6
books on historical topics (3000 copies in total)
4
Nationwide Summer Schools
"How towns (do not) remember"
4
documentary movies about the Holocaust in Rivne
6
memorial signs to the victims of Nazism in Rivne
6
educational seminars in Europe

Our activities

January 28, 2016
Creation of the NGO "Center for Studies of Memory Policy and Public History "Mnemonics" by the initiative group of Rivne historians – Maksym Gon, Petro Dolhanov, and Nataliia Ivchyk.
May 19-20, 2016
3d Nation-wide scientific and practical conference "Memory Policy in Theoretical and Practical Dimensions". Its thematic focus was "Commemoration of the memory of victims of genocides and mass killings". 56 participants from 10 regions of Ukraine.
August 8, 2016
As a result of the search work, members of NGO "Mnemonics" found additional information concerning Righteous among the Nations Yakiv Sukhenko.
September 8, 2016
Presentation of the documentary about the Holocaust in Rivne "The Executed Town". The film was made by NGO "Mnemonics" within the framework of the project "Revival of Multiculturalism in Rivne Memorial Space" with the support of Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung in Ukraine.
March 30-31, 2017
4th Nation-wide scientific and practical conference "Memory Policy in Theoretical and Practical Dimensions". Its thematic focus was "National minorities and the collective memory of titular nations: dilemmas of (not) forgetting". 60 participants from 11 regions of Ukraine.
August 7, 2017
Within the framework of the 1st Summer School "How Towns (do not) Remember", NGO "Mnemonics" published a book by Maksym Gon, Petro Dolhanov and Nataliia Ivchyk about Rivne memorial space – "Town of Memory – Town of Oblivion: Palimpsests of Rivne Memorial Landscape".
August 7-11, 2017
Summer school "How Towns (do not) Remember" was devoted to the following topics: "Symbolic space of cities in the theories of memory policy", "Monuments and memorials in the urban memory culture", "Commemoration of the genocide victims in urban memorial landscapes", "Museum practices in the symbolic space of cities", "Non-dominant groups in the symbolic space of cities".
November 9, 2017
Publication of the book by Jeffrey Burds "Holocaust in Rivne: The Massacre at Sosonki Forest, November 1941". The book was translated and published by NGO "Mnemonics" within the framework of the project "Responsibility for the Memory" with the support of Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung in Ukraine.
November 14, 2017
Release of the documentary animation "The Man with the Face" dedicated to the Righteous among the Nations Yakiv Sukhenko, who rescued Jews during the Holocaust in Rivne, and was killed by Nazis for that.
February 13, 2018
Publication of the book by Petro Dolhanov "To Buy from Own People". The book focuses on Ukrainian economic nationalism, a movement to transform the peasant nation into an urbanized and economically developed community.
March 23, 2018
Publication of the book by Maksym Gon "Rowne: the Outlines of the Missing Town", which is the first book on the history of the Jewish community in Rivne during the interwar period (1921-1939).
May 11-12, 2018
5th Nation-wide scientific and practical conference "Memory Policy in Theoretical and Practical Dimensions". Its thematic focus was "Constructs of formation/correction of the collective memory". More than 40 participants from 12 regions of Ukraine, including from such cities as Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipro, Cherkasy, Nizhyn, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Lutsk, Rivne, Vinnytsia, Lviv, Uzhgorod.
July 28, 2018
Installation of stumbling stones in Rivne dedicated to the victims of Nazism: Polish poet Zuzanna Ginczanka, Righteous among the Nations Yakiv Sukhenko, the Krulyks family, and priest Volodymyr Mysechko.
August 6-10, 2018
2nd Summer school "How Towns (do not) Remember" was devoted to the following topics: "Symbolic space of cities in dilemmas of (non) remembering", "Monuments and memorials in the urban memory culture", "Commemoration of the genocide victims in urban memorial landscapes", "Literature and documentary videos in dimensions of collective memory," "Museums and theme cafes as agents of collective memory."
January 15, 2019
NGO "Mnemonics" presented a board game for high school students "The Missing Town" and a wall calendar "Multicultural Rivne".

March 5, 2019
Release of the documentary animation "Doomed: The History of Rivne Ghetto", which describes the eight-month history of suffering of over 5 000 Rivne Jews imprisoned in the ghetto during World War II (1941–1942).
May 3-4, 2019
6th Nation-wide scientific and practical conference "Memory Policy in Theoretical and Practical Dimensions". Its thematic focus was "Spaces of memories". 43 participants from 12 regions of Ukraine.
August 5-9, 2019
3d Summer school "How Towns (do not) Remember" was devoted to the following topics: "Symbolic space of cities in dilemmas of (non) remembering", "Competing meta-narratives and inclusive approaches to forming urban memorial space", "Commemoration of the genocide victims in urban memorial landscapes", "Monuments and memorials in the urban memory culture", "Museums as subjects of collective memory formation."
December 13, 2019
Installation of the memorial sign to the victims of Rivne ghetto. The memorial sign was created on the initiative of NGO "Mnemonics" in partnership with the Jewish community of Dusseldorf.
30 January 2021
Release of the documentary "Uprising of the Doomed" which tells the story of the 1942 Ghetto Uprising in the vilage of Tuczyn, when the Jewish community set fire to the ghetto in order to resist the Nazis and Ukrainians who liquidated the ghetto.
documentary "Uprising of the Doomed"
16-21 August 2021
Summer school "(in)Visible publicity of women. History and Modernity" was the first summer school of "Mnemonics" dealing with the theme of gender visibility. The school was dedicated to the problem of uncovering the role of women in various social spheres and practices: in cinema, in architecture, in gastronomic life, in entrepreneurship and in the symbolic space of the city.
lectures "(in)Visible publicity of women"
Our sponsors and partners
Contacts
+380982702863
mnemonics2801@gmail.com