Sound in the Silence 2026

About

Time: 3 October – 11 October 2026
Location: Gernika, Basque Country, Spain
For who? The project is aimed at teachers and students, aged 16-19
Costs: Free of charge
Project language: English

Sound in the Silence is an intercultural and international remembrance project designed for youth. At historically significant locations, high school students collaborate with artists from various disciplines to explore how the past connects to their present-day questions and experiences.

Through artistic workshops, it provides young people with new perspectives on European history, encouraging them to develop their own understanding using different means of expression. To date, the project has been organized in various locations, including Memorial Places Neuengamme, Ravensbrück, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Gusen-Mauthausen, as well as Denkort Bunker Valentin, Kaunas 9th Fort Museum, Warsaw, Jasenovac, Pitesti and Pruszków.

Application deadline is 3 May 2026.

The 2026 edition of Sound in the Silence will take place in Gernika, Spain, focusing on the history of the bombing of the town on 26 April 1937 and the broader context of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939).

The bombing of Gernika, carried out by German and Italian forces in support of the Franco’s Nationalist forces, became one of the most symbolic and devastating attacks on civilians in 20th-century Europe. The destruction of the town and the suffering of its inhabitants resonated far beyond Spain, marking a turning point in the perception of modern warfare and foreshadowing the atrocities that would soon unfold during the Second World War. At the same time, the bombing of Gernika was immediately surrounded by disinformation – most notably the false narrative that the town had been burned by its own inhabitants. In contrast, foreign journalists present in the region played a crucial role in revealing the truth to the world, ensuring that the scale and nature of the attack could not be entirely concealed.

The Spanish Civil War was not only an internal conflict but also a deeply international one. It involved foreign powers, ideological struggles, and competing visions of Europe’s future. For this reason, the project will approach the events in Gernika as a prelude to the global conflict that erupted just two years later, highlighting the civil war as a testing ground for political alliances, military strategies, and propaganda.

At the heart of this edition will be the experiences of civilians – those who endured violence, loss, displacement, and fear. Their voices, often overshadowed by military narratives, reveal the human cost of conflict and the long-lasting trauma it inflicts. The war led to a profound and enduring divisions within Spanish society, the consequences of which have been felt for decades.

Sound in the Silence in Gernika will also address the period of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship that followed the war, providing essential context for understanding how these divisions persisted and evolved over time. By connecting the past with the present, the project will explore how memory, silence, and unresolved tensions continue to shape contemporary society in Spain.

Through artistic expression, young participants will engage with the history of Gernika, reflecting on themes of violence, memory, and resilience. By working with historical sources, personal testimonies, and the physical space of the town, they will uncover stories that speak not only to the past but also to present-day challenges.

This immersive experience will encourage participants to critically reflect on the impact of war on individuals and communities, fostering empathy and awareness. By bridging history with contemporary realities, Sound in the Silence in Gernika seeks to ensure that the memory of those who suffered is preserved and that the lessons of the past remain relevant for future generations.

Recruitment

The call for applications is open from 23 March to 3 May 2026.

Applications can be submitted by teachers only. To apply with your class fill out this form.

Please note that only schools scoring the highest in the application assessment take part in the project.

About the Artists

Dan Wolf

PROJECT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS

Dan Wolf is a hip-hop artist who works with rap, theater, personal narrative, and history to give voice to the problematic world we live in. His multi-sensory work draws its power from years of experience working, teaching, and performing with the critically acclaimed hip-hop music and theatre collective Felonious. His projects have traveled all around the world from concert halls to museums to schools and memorial sites where he engages history and culture as a prompt to make vital music and theater that can only live in this moment. He is the Artistic Director of Sound in the Silence and a co-founder of both the Bay Area Theatre Cypher and Felonious. He is a board member of the Playwrights Foundation and a member of the Recording Academy and Actors Equity Association.

Kat Rampackova

DANCING WORKSHOPS

Kat Rampackova is a choreographer, dance activist, and dance facilitator from Košice, Slovakia, specializing in interdisciplinary and inclusive dance projects. She is the co-founder of PST – Space of Contemporary Dance in Košice, and the dramaturg for Move Fest Košice, an annual festival of contemporary dance and new circus. Currently based in Barcelona, Kat is expanding her expertise in somatic practices through Body-Mind Centering. Since 2009, she has been a freelance choreographer and performer, with a focus on inclusion and artistic projects for children, as well as dance and site-specific performances in both traditional and non-traditional settings. Since 2016, Kat has been a choreographer for Sound in the Silence. Her work emphasizes cross-cultural communication, community-building, and the integration of art and education.

Sean Palmer

VOCAL WORKSHOP

Sean Palmer (1977) trained in theatre and arts in Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. After almost a decade of theatrical collaborations between PL and the UK, he moved to PL permanently. He is an active creator, collaborator and educator. Between 2010 and 2020 he ran his own experimental choir - GRE BADANIE - exploring the boundaries of sound and energy as a carrier of meaning. 2014 - 2018 he was the resident artistic director/conductor of the POLIN choir which performed original material concerts twice a year alongside current exhibitions. He currently co-runs MONT - a youth orchestra and a fun community choir for foreigners with the support of artistic institutions Warsaw. Sean is not a trained musician, but has found himself composing for theatre, dance and choirs as well as singing and recording in multifarious settings. Since 2015 he is the front man of the White Kites (Missing, Devillusion) and jazz trio William’s Things (William’s Things, A Heart Not all of Wood, The Robots are Coming). Every day Sean works as VO artist from his studio in Warsaw. Apart from all the above ‘arty stuff’, he’s also a dad, a husband, has two kids, two cats, loves running and doesn’t eat animals.

Workshops for teachers

During the project, we organise a workshop programme for teachers. While students work with the artists, educators will have time for professional exchange, reflection, and exploring new methods for teaching history. More information coming soon.

Project Coordinators

The coordinators of the 2026 edition of Sound in the Silence are Justyna Radziukiewicz and Julia Machnowska.
Contact: justyna.radziukiewicz@enrs.eu and julia.machnowska@enrs.eu

Read more about Justyna.
Read more about Julia.

Partners

Organiser

Partners

ENRS is funded by: