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.
