Building Cultures of Remembrance (BCOR)

Each program year consists of one Germany-focused and one U.S.-focused professional exchange. Participants take part in a study tour in the host country and in their own country, to gain comprehensive knowledge of the transatlantic dimensions of the topic.

In the professional exchange taking place in 2025/2026, special emphasis will be placed on how the private sector can address historical legacies, demonstrate social engagement, and take responsibility in the present. Together with representatives from the private sector, as well as remembrance practitioners from civil society and academia, we will explore approaches and opportunities to learn from the past and take action in the here and now.

The U.S. study tour will take place from November 2 – 9, 2025, in Atlanta, GA, and Montgomery, AL.

The study tour in Germany is scheduled for March 22 – 29, 2026. Specific locations will be announced shortly.

• Participants are expected to contribute their subject-matter expertise to the group and discuss their insights in regional, national, and transatlantic contexts.
• They will summarize their experiences in a final report that outlines their key learnings and how these can inform their professional practice.
• Participants will become part of a sustainable network of experts.
• Participants are encouraged to integrate what they have learned into their ongoing professional work.

• Gain insights into approaches to remember historical legacies in the United States and Germany.
• Discuss successful methods for addressing historical legacies.
• Explore opportunities to connect remembrance work and corporate engagement.
• Build a transatlantic network of experts and a platform for mutual learning.
• Strengthen awareness of shared values and foster transatlantic solidarity.
• Enhance awareness of corporate responsibility and providing professional development opportunities for civic learning in the transatlantic sphere.

Each year, eight participants from the United States and eight participants from Germany will be selected to participate in the program, selected through an open call for applications conducted by Cultural Vistas. 

Applications are being accepted from:

• Employees of companies and organizations working in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) who have a professional interest in remembrance work
• Employees of companies and organizations that are critically engaging with, or planning to engage with, their own corporate history
• Remembrance practitioners from civil society and academia who have a professional interest in collaborating with the private sector to promote remembrance work and civic engagement
• Individuals with a demonstrated professional interest in remembrance work related to addressing historical legacies in Germany and the United States (e.g., remembrance practitioners, historians, curators, researchers, artists, policy advisors, etc.)

• Monday, July 21 to Sunday, September 14, 2025: Application period
• Week of September 15, 2025: Notification of application results
• October 2025: Virtual pre-departure meeting for the U.S. program
• November 2 to 9, 2025: Professional study tour in the U.S.
• December 2025/January 2026: Virtual reflection session
• March 2026: Virtual pre-departure meeting for the program in Germany
• March 22 to 29, 2026 (TBC): Professional study tour in Germany

Applications for the 2025/2026 BCOR program are being accepted between July 21 and September 14, 2025:  Click HERE to apply.

Candidates will be informed of the status of their application in the week of September 15, 2025.

Since 2025, the program has been funded by the Transatlantic Program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Hans and Berthold Finkelstein Foundation.

Previous iterations of the program had been funded by the Transatlantic Program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, and the Heinrich Böll Foundation North America.

The program covers the costs of international and domestic travel to the program locations, accommodation during the program, breakfast and lunch, all local transfers, accident and health insurance, as well as all meetings and site visits included in the program.