RAN VoT WG Meeting - Cultural and artistic approaches involving victims/survivors of terrorism, with a commemorative, healing or PVE aim, Vienna 22-23 June 2023

On 22-23 June 2023 victims/survivors of terrorism, representatives of victim organisations and other practitioners working with victims/survivors gathered in Vienna (Austria) to discuss how artistic and cultural approaches are used by and/or for victims/survivors for healing, commemoration and/or with a preventing violent extremism (PVE) aim.

Specific projects and initiatives were discussed where artistic and cultural approaches, such as drama, music, singing, creative writing and painting, are used by and/or for victims/survivors of terrorism to express and address their sufferance, as well as to commemorate the traumatic experiences they lived through. In addition, experiences of artistic and cultural approaches by and/or for victims/survivors with a preventive purpose were also presented at the meeting.

The following key aspects and elements have been identified and discussed during the meeting:

• Art and culture entail a great potential in relation to victims/survivors of terrorism in terms of healing and commemoration as they overcome the limits of logic and verbalisation and foster emotional connections and resilience.
• Terrorism is about dividing societies: art can facilitate the re-establishment of a connection between victims/survivors and their community.
• Cultural and artistic approaches can reach society more rapidly and broadly by virtue of their nature, accessibility, and enjoyability: artworks represent a privileged tool for victims/survivors of terrorism to elaborate tailored preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) messages and spread them through a larger audience.
• The role of victims/survivors of terrorism is continuously evolving and so is their positioning towards involvement in artistic approaches: while art can be beneficial for some or in certain periods, it might not be for others or in different time frames.

This conclusion paper reports the highlights of the discussion, with a specific focus on the different and intersecting dimensions in which art and culture can play a role in connection to victims/survivors of terrorism, followed by an analysis of the challenges connected to this process. Recommendations are presented in the last section.