Schlüssel, Pass, Fluchtboot | Key, Passport, Escape Boat

Once a year the Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna and the chair for Public History invite the public to congregate in the university's grand ceremonial hall to the "Vienna Public History Lectures". In terms of content, this series is directed towards 'public history', which might be defined as 'the public engagement with history'. Public history has its own history and it continues to generate impactful stories. The origins of these stories tend not to be recognised for what they are; usually, they remain unconsidered. The "Vienna Public History Lectures" are aimed at an interested public; they are by no means strictly academic. Rather, we endeavour to invite speakers who, in their writings, have proven time and again how commonplace but, at the same time, how significant and how invisible these stories are in all our lives. We seek to provide a platform for those who are unafraid of crossing the borders between research and poetry, between science and literature, between freelance profession and academic office. This series aims to transcend the disciplinary boundaries of historical and cultural studies, both internally and externally. We extend an invitation to everyone who is interested to join us and share in this process of public conversation and reflection.