Hesse Launches Youth Art Contest Honoring Forgotten Family Histories
A new art competition for young people in Hesse has been launched to mark the 85th anniversary of a historic event. Called Homeland Through Young Eyes: Remember. Tell. Paint., it encourages children and teenagers to explore their family’s past through creative work. The initiative comes from Andreas Hofmeister, a member of the Hessian State Parliament and the government’s Commissioner for Expellees and Late Resettlers. The competition begins on May 4, 2026, with submissions accepted until June 30, 2026. It targets three school groups: primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary. Each category will award first, second, and third prizes.
Participants are asked to reflect on the experiences of their grandparents or great-grandparents, many of whom faced displacement or resettlement. Nearly one in three Hessians has ties to such histories. The competition ties into the 85th anniversary of the *Deportation Decree*, issued by the USSR’s Supreme Soviet on August 28, 1941. This decree forcibly relocated ethnic Germans who had lived in Russia and the Soviet Union for over two centuries. An independent jury will judge the entries. Among its members are Hessian Interior Minister Prof. Dr. Roman Poseck and State Secretary Martin Rößler. Winners will receive a certificate, a small gift, and an invitation to the award ceremony in Wiesbaden.
The competition aims to connect younger generations with their family’s cultural and historical roots. Winners will be recognised at a formal event in Wiesbaden. The initiative also serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of the 1941 deportations on Hessian families.
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