World Heritage Conference 2025
For the fourth time students from Bremen's UNESCO project schools – Wilhelm-Kaisen-Oberschule (WKO), Gesamtschule Bremen Mitte (GSM), Oberschule an der Lerchenstraße (OSL), Kaufmännische Lehranstalten Bremerhaven (KLA) – engaged from April 22–25, 2025 with Bremen’s World Heritage under the theme "Communicate. Connect. Inspire". After starting at Bremen Town Hall on 22.04.2025 with a rally through the Bürgerschaft, a simulation game in the plenary hall, input on the topic of UNESCO and a quiz tour through the town hall, the students worked out their view of Bremen's World Heritage at Gate 40 Güterbahnhof Bremen in the artistic disciplines of graffiti, stopmotion and photography from 23-25.4.2025.
The World Heritage Conference 2025 was realized in cooperation with the Association for the Promotion of the World Heritage Town Hall and Roland in Bremen e.V., the Senate Chancellery, the Bremen Parliament and Kunsthaus KUBO e.V.
Workshops:
- Photography with Selina Gühmann: sharpening your own perspective and looking at democracy from different angles - that's what the photography workshop was all about.
- Graffiti with Jo* Szymanski: in three days, the students worked on and worked out a community picture based on the Justizia (approx. 3.5 x 5 meters) and learned a lot about how to use spray cans and accessories.
- Stop-motion with Eike Buff: the students explored different techniques of stop-motion filming and animated film production and put their perspectives and ideas on the topic of world heritage and democracy onto the screen.
The artistic works which were created during the four-day conference were presented to the public on 28.05.2025 at the opening of the Bremen World Heritage Days in the upper town hall.
Thanks to all the artists, teachers and many helping hands!
Thanks for the support to the Deutsche Kindergeld Stiftung Bremen, the District Office Mitte, the Association for the Promotion of the World Heritage Town Hall and Roland in Bremen e.V. , the Bremen Parliament, the Senate Chancellery, the Bremen business associations and the Makemedia Studios.
World Heritage Conference 2024
From April 2–6, 2024, the World Heritage Conference took place for the third time with nearly 50 students from UNESCO project schools (Gesamtschule Bremen Mitte, Oberschule an der Lerchenstraße, Wilhelm-Kaisen-Oberschule, and Kaufmännische Lehranstalt Bremerhaven). The participating students engaged both conceptually and artistically with Bremen’s World Heritage at the Bremen Town Hall, the Güterbahnhof Bremen, and the Makemedia Studios. In 2024, KUBO contributed three artistic workshops in the fields of painting, graffiti, and podcasting. After an introductory session at Bremen Town Hall, the students spent five days working in the workshops under the theme "Experience and Discover Diversity." The three workshops were led by Elfin Açar, Johannes Graf, and Thomas Kaiser. An additional workshop titled "We Stir Up Dust" took place in collaboration with the International Dust Archive by artist Dr. Wolfgang Stöcker.
The results could be admired and listened to during the Bremen World Heritage Days 2024, which this year celebrated 20 years of Bremen Town Hall and the Roland statue as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The presentation took place from May 31 to June 30, 2024, in the lower hall of the Bremen Town Hall.
Some of the results are also available online on the website of the Senator for Children and Education.
We thank everyone who helped shape this week – and especially Lucie Rugen, Magdalena Meschter, and Theresa van Bodegraven for their volunteer support in the workshops, as well as Selina Gühmann for coordinating the workshops.
Since 2022, the World Heritage Conference has been held in collaboration with the Bremen UNESCO project schools and in cooperation with the Senator for Children and Education, the Senate Chancellery, and Kunsthaus KUBO e.V..
Film: Esther Nyaga, Joy Tito
World Heritage Conference 2023
Under the theme "Our World. Our Heritage. Our Responsibility," 26 students from the UNESCO project schools (Gesamtschule Bremen Mitte, Oberschule an der Lerchenstraße, Wilhelm-Kaisen-Oberschule, Kaufmännische Lehranstalt Bremerhaven) engaged both conceptually and artistically with Bremen’s World Heritage from April 12–15, 2023.
The conference opened on April 12 at Bremen Town Hall, where students received an introduction and lectures on UNESCO World Heritage and participated in a guided tour of the Town Hall. Additionally, they had the opportunity to witness the French Ambassador François Delattre signing the Golden Book during his inaugural visit to the State of Bremen.From April 13–15, 2023, the students worked in workshop groups at the Güterbahnhof Bremen, exploring the topic through the artistic fields of performance, graffiti, and podcasting. The workshops were led by artists Lena Neckel, Johannes Graf, and Thomas Keiser.
The outcomes were exhibited as part of the Bremen World Heritage Days 2023, starting June 2 in the lower hall of Bremen Town Hall.
Special thanks go to the Senator for Children and Education for initiating and supporting the project, to the Senate Chancellery and the District Office Mitte for their support, and to all participating students and teachers from the involved schools. Thanks also to the artists Lena Neckel, Johannes Graf, and Thomas Keiser, to the Güterbahnhof Bremen for providing a wonderful workspace, and to Lilian Kiefel and Lucie Rugen for their volunteer support.
Film: Barvin Shababo, Reena Bernek, Lieke Bernek
Photos: Selina Verbarg
World Heritage Conference 2022
From April 20–23, 2022, the first World Heritage Conference took place under the motto "Preserving Heritage – Shaping the Future." It was initiated by the Senator for Children and Education in cooperation with the Senate Chancellery, the UNESCO project schools (Gesamtschule Bremen Mitte, Oberschule an der Lerchenstraße, Wilhelm-Kaisen-Oberschule), and the Art House KUBO.
For four days, students engaged intensively with Bremen’s World Heritage. Following an introduction to the topic at Bremen Town Hall, the hands-on artistic work began on April 21 at the Bremen Adult Education Center. In three artistic workshops—performance, comic drawing, and graffiti—the students explored and deepened their understanding of the subject through creative expression.
The workshops were led by Lena Neckel, Soyon Starke An, Claudia Kunze, and Johannes Graf.
The results were presented during the World Heritage Days 2022 from May 25 to June 20 in the lower hall of Bremen Town Hall.
Film: Lukas Klose