Center for Urban History

The Center for Urban History of East Central Europe is a research and public history institution with particular experience in urban studies, cultural memory, heritage, and digital projects. The Center employs specialists in the disciplines of architecture, history, media studies, art history, and sociology. Annually, the Center hosts up to 15 visiting fellows and organizes two or three international conferences, as well as several dozen public lectures, seminars, trainings, summer schools, and exhibitions. One of the focuses of the Center's activity is related to cultural heritage, its revitalization, and adaptive reuse. The Center for Urban History has an active role in practical adaptive heritage reuse in Lviv. The Urban Media Archive of the Center lvivcenter.org/uk/uma has the aim to collect, store, research, make accessible, and promote collections and materials that are often left beyond the attention of the state archival institutions. The collections address, among others, the topics of visual history of urban life, media history, art communities in the cities, non-conformism and dissidents in the 20th century, oral history, and industrial heritage. The Center focuses on digitizing historical documents and audiovisual materials to make them accessible online, preserving cultural heritage while facilitating research. Community engagement initiatives promote awareness of local urban heritage, fostering participation in cultural activities and a sense of identity among residents. In summary, the Center for Urban Histore plays a vital role in preserving and promoting the urban heritage of Ukraine. Through its research, educational efforts, and community outreach, the Center ensures that the historical narratives of cities in the region are recognized and valued for future generations.