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Echoes in Ink 2026 – Saxony-wide youth competition for graphic novels, comics and visual storytelling Retell history. Draw your perspective. Make your voice heard. How do we remember history? Which stories should be passed on? And what role do democracy, diversity and social responsibility play today? With the youth competition “Echoes in Ink 2026”, Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e. V. invites school pupils from across Saxony to engage creatively with Jewish history, the culture of remembrance and current social issues. We are looking for comics, graphic novels, manga and other forms of visual storytelling that creatively combine history, personal reflections and visions of the future. It’s not about perfect drawing. The focus is on your ideas, your perspectives and your stories.   Who can take part? The competition is open to pupils in Years 6 to 12 at all types of schools in Saxony. The following may take part: Individuals Teams of up to three people Participation is free of charge. Whether you have taken part in an Echoes in Ink workshop or not – everyone can join in.   What entries can be submitted? We welcome, among other things: Comics Graphic novels Manga Illustrated short stories Digital comics Mixed-media works Visual essays Other forms of visual storytelling   Length 2 to 6 pages   Language German or English   Possible topics Your entry could, for example, explore the following topics: Jewish history Jewish life today Culture of remembrance Anti-Semitism and exclusion Democracy and human rights Courage and moral courage Responsibility and social cohesion The future of remembrance The topics are intended as a guide. Your own perspectives and creative approaches are expressly encouraged.   Awards Entries will be judged in three age groups: 🏆 Years 6–7 🏆 Years 8–9 🏆 Years 10–12 The following prizes will also be awarded: ⭐ Audience Award ⭐ Jury Prize Attractive prizes, including gifts and cultural experiences, await the winners. Selected works will also be presented at the final exhibition at the Full Moon Gallery in Dresden and published in the digital graphic novel collection by Echoes in Ink. Publication will take place exclusively with the consent of the participants or their legal guardians. Upon request, entries may also be published anonymously or under a pseudonym. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.   Important dates 📅 30 September 2026 Submission deadline 📅 15 October 2026 Jury meeting 📅 15 November 2026 Announcement of the winners 📅 November 2026 Exhibition and awards ceremony at the Full Moon Gallery Dresden   How to submit your entry Entries must be submitted via our online form. Accepted formats: PDF JPG / JPEG Entries must be submitted via a shareable link (e.g. Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox). SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY NOW Exhibition at the Full Moon Gallery Dresden The best and most exciting entries will be presented at the Full Moon Gallery Dresden in November 2026. The exhibition highlights the creative perspectives of young people and creates a space for dialogue on memory, responsibility and social cohesion.   Data protection Personal data collected as part of the submission process will be used exclusively for the purposes of the competition and will not be passed on to third parties. Names, images or entries will only be published with the express consent of the participants or their legal guardians.   Questions? Youth & Culture Project e. V. Echoes in Ink 2026 📧 info@jkpev.de 📞 0351 810 47 66 🌐 echoesinink.jkpev.de  

In 2026, the time has come once again to experience history creatively and to shape remembrance in a vivid and meaningful way. The Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e.V.  warmly invites schools to take part in the project day “ECHOES IN INK 2026 – The Art of Remembrance.” This free program is aimed at students in grades 7 to 12 and combines historical education, artistic expression, and empowerment. It offers young people a personal and creative approach to Jewish history, remembrance culture, and the prevention of antisemitism. Funded as part of TACHELES 2026 | The Year of Jewish Culture in Saxony, the project relies on creative and dialogical methods that engage emotionally and encourage critical reflection. At its core is the question of how remembrance can be shaped today – and what responsibility arises from this for the present. Interactive Workshops: Rethinking History Creatively The project day is structured into three interactive workshop modules, each lasting 90 minutes. In an antisemitism awareness workshop, students explore historical backgrounds, local Jewish biographies, and the mechanisms behind prejudice. This is followed by a graphic novel workshop, where participants learn the basics of comic storytelling, character development, and visual narration. In the final artistic production phase, students develop their own short comics under professional guidance, addressing themes such as remembrance, personal stance, and social responsibility. With ECHOES IN INK 2026, our goal is not only to convey knowledge, but to give young people the space to creatively process history and to develop their own perspectives. Visibility, Awards, and Inclusive Access Selected student works will be presented in a digital graphic novel collection (e-book) as well as in an exhibition at the Full Moon Gallery Dresden. The exhibition will be accompanied by a festive award ceremony, during which a jury composed of representatives of Jewish communities as well as art and education experts will honor outstanding contributions. In addition, the results will be shared with a wider audience through digital channels, including social media and project platforms. A central concern of the project is accessibility and inclusion: low-threshold participation formats, inclusive methods, and digital accessibility ensure that all young people can take part – regardless of individual abilities or prior knowledge. Schools can apply now for a project day at their institution here! Apply

Our fourth newsletter is here! In our fourth newsletter, we look back on the conclusion of ‘Echoes in Ink – The Art of Remembrance’. Over the past few months, young people have artistically processed Jewish history and remembrance culture in a multi-layered graphic novel collection. With the publication of the e-book, these works are now accessible to a wide audience – a step that was already evident at the successful launch event and now opens up space for further dialogue, reflection and exchange.

Launch Event: Echoes in Ink – December 14, 2025 On the evening of December 14, 2025, marking the beginning of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the KulturCentrale Dresden became a space for listening, dialogue, and reflection during the launch event of “ECHOES IN INK – The Art of Remembrance”. At the heart of the evening was the artistic engagement of young people with Jewish history, memory culture, and social responsibility. The launch event not only marked the public presentation of the graphic novels created during the project, but also served as a conscious moment of pause and reflection—at a time when memory culture needs to be rethought and actively shaped. The works presented were developed through intensive workshops, research, and artistic guidance, demonstrating how contemporary memory culture can be: personal, multifaceted, and visually accessible. Why Remembrance Matters The event highlighted why projects like ECHOES IN INK are particularly significant today. Memory culture only remains vibrant when diverse perspectives are made visible and heard. The voices of young people, in particular, open new avenues for engaging with historical topics: they connect past, present, and future, bringing personal reflections into the public discourse. In a time when antisemitism is rising, historical narratives are increasingly forgotten, and discriminatory ideologies are re-emerging, it becomes clear how essential it is not only to preserve history but to actively carry it forward. At the same time, memory culture is fundamentally changing, as fewer survivors can share their own experiences. It is now the responsibility of those who listen, remember, and develop new forms of storytelling. The graphic novels created in the project vividly demonstrate that remembrance is not an abstract concept but comes alive through individual experiences, creative expression, and ethical engagement. They offer a multifaceted picture of responsibility, human dignity, and civic engagement – a compelling call to be aware of the past, critically reflect on the present, and take responsibility for an inclusive, democratic future. Recent events underscore the painful reality that antisemitism is not a thing of the past but an urgent societal issue. The Project in Overview: ECHOES IN INK – The Art of Remembrance ECHOES IN INK is an interdisciplinary arts and education project that offers young people a creative entry point into Jewish history and the engagement with Nazi persecution. The project encourages young people to become researchers, storytellers, and creators themselves. At its core are researches into Jewish life and memory culture – before, during, and after the Shoah. Through memorial tours, creative workshops, and thematic working sessions, participants developed their own comic narratives. The aim was not merely to document historical facts but to explore questions of responsibility, the continuities of discrimination, and personal ethical stances. The Graphic Novels in Focus The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the graphic novels. Participants showcased their works and provided insights into their research, storytelling, and artistic processes. Nazanin Zandi, the workshop leader, also presented her progress on her personal graphic novel, which explores her own family history. The works presented varied greatly in style and perspective, yet all demonstrated an intense engagement with Jewish biographies, historical ruptures, and the importance of memory culture. The graphic novels explored themes of fear, loss, resistance, and remembrance, showcasing the power of the medium to convey complex historical topics. In addition to the presentations by the young artists, the event offered space for discussions with artists, historians, and educators. Visitors also had the opportunity to engage directly with the participants, experience the works up close, and discuss their creation and significance. The event highlighted how creative projects empower young people to reflect on complex historical issues, consider multiple perspectives on the past, and take responsibility in the present. An Evening That Resonates The ECHOES IN INK launch event was more than a presentation of artistic results. It was an evening that demonstrated the importance of spaces where young voices are heard and memory is actively shaped. Against the backdrop of rising antisemitic violence, it became clear that remembrance is not merely an exercise in the past but a societal responsibility here and now. ECHOES IN INK shows how this can be realized through art, ethical commitment, and the conviction that remembering entails responsibility. Discover the e-book

ECHOES IN INK: The Art of Remembrance 14 December 2025 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Full Moon Gallery On 14 December 2025, we cordially invite you to the presentation of the graphic novels created as part of the ECHOES IN INK project. The Full Moon Gallery will showcase the creative works of young people who, together with artists, historians and educators, have embarked on a special quest: How can memories be made visible? How can stories from the past and present be told in pictures?The launch event will not only open the exhibition of the best graphic novels, but also mark the release of the e-book documenting the diversity of the results. In addition to a keynote speech on ‘The Art of Remembering’, you can look forward to contributions from the young people themselves, who will present their work and talk about their experiences.Together with members of the Jewish communities, artists and experts, we want to engage in conversation – about the power of images, the telling of stories and the importance of a vibrant culture of remembrance. PROGRAMME 6:00 p.m. – Welcome & introductionOpening of the evening by the project managementPresentation of the ECHOES IN INK project 6:15 p.m. – Keynote speech by Doreen Siegmund ‘The Art of Remembering’Reflections on the significance of memory culture in art and society 6:30 p.m. – Lecture by Francesca Mele ‘Decolonise our cities, question our history’ (in English)Public spaces carry memory and meaning. How are our cities perpetuating discrimination in monuments, streets, and squares? We encourage communities to rewrite narratives and shape inclusive cities. 7:00 p.m. – Presentation of the graphic novelsYoung people present their works and report on their experiences in the project 7:30 p.m. – Discussion & exchangeWith artists, historians, members of the Jewish communities and the audience: How can images keep history alive? 7:50 p.m. – Outlook & e-book launchPresentation of the digital anthology with the resulting works 8:00 p.m. – Closing & opportunity for exchangeIndividual conversations during a free tour of the exhibition. We look forward to sharing this special evening with you and cordially invite you to be part of the premiere of ECHOES IN INK. A project funded by the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) and the EVZ Foundation.

Our third newsletter is out now! Find out more about the results of our commemorative tours, workshops and working sessions, get an exclusive preview of the first graphic novels, and don’t miss the opportunity to create your own graphic novel.

Good day and warm greetings from Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e.V.! As part of our project ‘Echoes in Ink – The Art of Remembrance’, we would like to invite you to forward the following call for entries to interested teenagers and young adults. Until 30 October 2025, young people aged 12 and above have the opportunity to submit their own graphic novels that creatively address the culture of remembrance and current social issues. A selection of the submitted works will be presented in an exhibition at the Full Moon Gallery Dresden (December 2025), published in a print and online publication, and used nationwide in an educational context. Details and criteria for submitting graphic novels Graphic novels should be submitted in A4 portrait format. The graphic novels can be created either digitally or traditionally drawn on paper and then scanned. Submissions should be sent as PDF or JPEG files via email to doreen.siegmund@jkpev.de or anna.melchior@jkpev.de. Entries should be at least one page and no more than five pages long. The deadline for submissions is 30 October!   Possible topics for the graphic novel The art of remembering – against forgetting and the reinterpretation of history The works can explore how memories are preserved, passed on or even distorted. There is an opportunity to reflect creatively on historical events, to make the past visible and to contribute your own perspective. The topic invites reflection on responsibility towards history, the significance of memory for the present, and the role of remembrance culture in today’s society. Jewish culture and history in Dresden/Saxony – then and now This topic offers space to explore the diversity of Jewish life in Dresden/Saxony: from everyday life before 1933 to the Nazi era and today’s forms of Jewish culture. Biographical research, historical events or current references can be creatively processed and artistically translated into graphic novels. There is room for personal interpretations, reflections, continuities and breaks, but also for highlighting perspectives and stories that are underrepresented in the public consciousness. Free choice of topics within the project In addition to these focal points, creative approaches of your own are also possible: family histories, artistic interpretations of memories or current social issues can be included. ‘Echoes in Ink’ provides the framework for making your own story visible and dealing with historical topics in a personal, artistic way. Interdisciplinary work The graphic novels can be created in an interdisciplinary manner and establish creative links between different school subjects, such as English, ethics, history or art. Teachers also have the opportunity to recognise the submissions as a special achievement in the context of their lessons, thus acknowledging the commitment of their pupils.   We would be delighted if you could forward this call for entries to creative pupils, teenagers and young adults. Your support will help to inspire young people to take an interest in history, remembrance culture and creative work, and give them the opportunity to share their ideas with a wider audience. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We thank you for your support and look forward to receiving many inspiring entries!

Five memorial walks, five creative workshops, and the question: What does it mean to remember? Our three-week ECHOES IN INK series of memorial walks and graphic workshops has now come to an end. At the core of our project “ECHOES IN INK: The Art of Remembrance” lies the connection of two elements: historical education and artistic creation. The thematic memorial walks with city guide Katharina Michael offered participants in-depth insights into the Jewish history of Dresden. Starting with the foundations of Jewish life and central sites of religious practice, the walks traced the path through persecution during the Nazi era, the destruction and reconstruction of Dresden, and today’s culture of remembrance. Participants not only gained historical knowledge, but also engaged with personal stories, current memorial sites, and questions about the future of remembrance. The walks combined historical information with creative and reflective approaches, enabling a multifaceted understanding of Jewish history in Dresden. In the subsequent graphic workshops with artist Nazanin Zandi, participants learned the basics of creating a graphic novel. Under professional guidance, they step by step explored all essential elements—from character development to image composition and perspective work, which fosters shifts in narrative viewpoint, to the atmosphere of places and their emotional depiction. Finally, they applied dramaturgical techniques to structure their graphic novels narratively and to develop their personal “voice of remembrance.” In this way, individual first ideas for visual storytelling emerged, making historical content accessible in creative and multi-voiced ways. The strength of Echoes in Ink lies in this special connection: history is not only conveyed, but placed in dialogue between past and present, and translated into a personal artistic form of expression. This revealed the diversity of individual approaches—regardless of whether participants brought prior historical knowledge or drawing experience.Throughout the process, a wealth of ideas emerged. Taken together, they make visible what Katharina Michael also emphasized in her tours: engaging with history in a lively way brings forth new stories—if one is willing to look and to tell them. Following this, five graphic novel workshops will take place, in which participants will create their own stories. First concepts may emerge, or already existing ideas can be further developed. The graphic novels will be presented this autumn at the Full Moon Gallery, published as both a print and online edition, and made available for educational use throughout Germany.Registration is possible here: https://forms.gle/nnEdxU4oDjeoNAdK9 A project funded by the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) and the Foundation EVZ.

Find out more about the project, the upcoming memorial tours in Dresden, creative workshops at the KulturCentrale and how you can get involved.