Luther and the north-west

2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the posting of Luther's theses. Over the next five years, researchers from the "Reformation Freedom Space" project will be exploring the significance of the Reformation for the north-west region. The project kicks off on Sunday, 2 September.

Wittenberg in October 1517, when Martin Luther - according to tradition - posted his 95 theses on the door of Wittenberg Castle Church. The event, which is traditionally interpreted as the beginning of the Reformation in Germany, led to a lasting religious and cultural differentiation and pluralisation of European society.

"Freedom Space Reformation" is the name of a large-scale co-operation project at the University of Oldenburg. To mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, it is looking at the consequences and relevance of the Reformation for north-west Germany. Over the next five years, the project - led by Oldenburg historian Prof Dr Dagmar Freist - will see the University's Institutes of History and Protestant Theology cooperate with partners from culture, science and society. This year's project launch is being funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), Minister of State Bernd Neumann.

In lectures, concerts, exhibitions, productions, academic conferences, community work and school projects, the anniversary of the Reformation is to be "given its own Northwest German signature", says project manager Freist. Since the 16th century, the north-west in particular has been characterised by Lutherans, Reformed, Catholics, Mennonites, Baptists, Jews and many other religious minorities living alongside, with and against each other. Oldenburg theologian and co-organiser Prof. Dr Andrea Strübind adds: "However, the co-operation project does not only focus on Christian denominations." Plurality, tolerance and confrontation in today's society, the culture of remembrance, the search for meaning and identity are also among the focal points of the events.

"The Reformation was of inestimable importance for the cultural future of the Oldenburg region and north-west Germany," emphasises Thomas Kossendey, President of the Oldenburgische Landschaft, which is one of the project's cooperation partners. "We emphatically welcome the fact that partners from north-west Germany and especially from the Oldenburg region are taking part in the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with 'Freiheitsraum Reformation'. We are very grateful for the support we are receiving from Minister of State Neumann," said Kossendey.

The launch of "Freiheitsraum Reformation" will take place on Sunday, 2 September at 12.00 noon in the Oldenburg Exerzierhalle. Freist and Strübind will then present the aims and content of the project. Ultimately, new forms of artistic and cultural communication are to be trialled over the next five years through "Freiheitsraum Reformation". One of the highlights of the project: in co-operation with the Oldenburg State Theatre, a play will be created that focuses on religious freedom in the north-west.
Also taking part in the launch event: University President Prof Dr Babette Simon, Thomas Kossendey, President of the Oldenburgische Landschaft, Helmut Collmann, President of the Ostfriesische Landschaft, and Oldenburg's Mayor Germaid Eilers-Dörfler. Ensemble members of the Oldenburg State Theatre and the La Dolcezza ensemble will provide the musical backdrop. Freist and Markus Müller, General Director of the Oldenburg State Theatre, will moderate the event. A festive church service will take place at 10.00 a.m. in Oldenburg's Lamberti Church (Neuer Markt 17). It will be held under the motto "Music makes happy people" and will focus on music set to texts by Martin Luther.

In addition to the University of Oldenburg, the following partners are involved in "Freiheitsraum Reformation": the Oldenburgische Landschaft, the Federal Institute for Culture and History of Germans in Eastern Europe (BKGE), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg, the Evangelical Reformed Church (Leer), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover (East Frisian District), the Johannes a Lasco Library Emden, the Oldenburg State Library, the Oldenburg State Museum of Nature and Man, the Oldenburg State Theatre and the Ostfriesische Landschaft.