Commemorative Plaque Commission
The Commemorative Plaque Commission of the District Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
The commemorative plaque commission is an advisory body for the district council and the district office. The commission deals with the care and maintenance of existing commemorative plaques and evaluates proposals for new commemorative plaques and street names. It is composed of one representative (on the district council) of each of the fractions and groups within the district council; of a member of the district office for district history, who also assumes the role of chair; of the head (or representative) of the culture and history division of the district office, as well as five interested and competent individuals from the subject-relevant public (for example, victims organized within the Memorial to the German Resistance, Historians). Currently, representatives of this subject-relevant public are:
Frieder Böhne (VVN/BdA), Dr. Dirk Moldt (Forum Erinnerungslandschaft Friedrichshain), Dr. Hans Rainer Sandvoß (Memorial to the German Resistance), and Martin Schönfeld (Kulturwerk des bkk Berlin – office for art in public space).
The commemorative plaque commission is tasked with the following:
- Care of existing commemorative plaques
- Collection and registration of proposals for new works of remembrance or for street name changes
- Commissioning the culture and history division of the district office and/or an expert council with the evaluation of historical facts in text, design, and presentation
- Consultation on plans for commemorative projects, preparation of plans for the district council
- Clarification and determination of funding
- Supervision of measures and methods for installation
Fulfillment of these tasks is supported by the division for culture and history of the district council.
An example of this commission’s work is the naming of the streets surrounding the o2-Arena.
Inauguration of Audre Lorde Street and a memorial to Audre Lorde
28 June | 17 – 19 | Intersection Audre-Lorde-Straße/Muskauer Straße
The feminist, campaigner and poet Audre Geraldine Lorde (1934-1992) had a significant influence on the Black women's* movement worldwide with her work against homophobia, sexism and racism. Between 1984 and 1992, she often spent time in West Berlin, including in Kreuzberg. Here she gave readings and lectures, called for a fight against racism and encouraged Black women to make their own history visible.
In February 2019, the district parliament of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg decided to name a street after Audre Lorde. Based on a public consultation, it chose the northern section of Manteuffelstraße. Now there is officially an Audre Lorde street in Kreuzberg.
With speeches by Clara Herrmann (district mayor of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg), Werner Heck (head of the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district council), Katharina Oguntoye, Marion Kraft, Dagmar Schultz, Tahir Della & Jasmin Eding
With music and artistic contributions by 3 Women, Joliba Choir & Lahya Aukongo
An event organised by FHXB Museum & Art Planner