Spaces for Reconciliation: Trauma-informed placemaking in post-conflict regions
- Written byNicole Horgan
- Published date 01 April 2026
Trauma-informed placemaking in post-conflict areas seeks to co-create inclusive, healing environments that consider the deep psychological and social impacts of past traumas. These projects focus on integrating artistic practices, such as photography and sound, with community collaboration to transform spaces historically marked by violence into ones of restoration, reflection, repair and resilience. The practices are rooted in building situations in which people feel heard, facilitating long-term social and emotional recovery where sound, memory and space converge.
Trauma-informed placemaking in post-conflict regions focuses on creating spaces that facilitate communication, reflection and reconciliation. This approach, demonstrated by projects like Landscapes of Repair, blends artistic interventions with emotional sensitivity to nurture environments where people can process trauma and envision shared futures. Collaborations between academic institutions, NGOs and local artists, such as those involving forumZFD Kosovo, the University of Sheffield and CRiSAP (Creative Research in Sound Arts Practice), have fostered practices where sound, memory and space intersect.
These practices transform contested or traumatic areas into spaces of memory, reflection and recovery. By fostering long-term collaboration, they develop soundscapes, public exhibitions and participatory methods to engage communities in healing. This network of healing leverages both digital and physical media to speak to the psychological wounds left by conflict. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, trauma-informed placemaking projects promote a sustainable, inclusive and equitable approach to engaging with communities.
The origins of trauma-informed placemaking stem from the need to address the enduring effects of conflict on communities in post-war regions like Kosovo and Bosnia. These practices build on the expertise of partners in sound arts, photography, conflict resolution and cultural heritage, aiming to bridge the gap between post-conflict communities and the spaces they inhabit. They are deeply embedded in the broader context of reconciliation and peacebuilding in the Balkans, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive, community-driven approaches to healing.
Aims
- To develop practices to help individuals and communities process trauma.
- Introduce new artistic and technological practices that push the boundaries of traditional placemaking.
- Build long-term partnerships between local and international actors, including artists, NGOs, civil society and academic institutions.
- Use practice and exhibitions to raise awareness of the social and psychological impacts of trauma, advocating for cultural, institutional and policy changes that support healing and reconciliation.
- Encourage active participation from local communities, ensuring that their voices, particularly those affected by conflict and trauma, shape public spaces and cultural projects.
Initiatives and activities
Sarajevo and 'Why Remember?'
In Sarajevo, a collaboration led by the late Professor Paul Lowe with the The Historical Museum of Bosnia Herzegovina involved commissioning artists to create works based on the museum's archival material, particularly reflecting on the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. These installations, exhibited in Sarajevo and internationally, engage with collective memories of the conflict, aiming to foster public reflection and healing. The project also includes participatory approaches, involving young people and NGOs in discussions on reconciliation and peacebuilding. LCC also facilitated a staff exchange between the museum and Imperial War Museums, whose curators advised on design and reconceptualisation of the museum’s permanent exhibition, ‘Besieged Sarajevo’. The ‘Why Remember?’ conference co-organised by UAL brings together researchers, artists, museum staff and NGOs to explore memory and conflict, helping Sarajevo and the region navigate its complex history while promoting long-term recovery through art and public engagement.
Landscapes of Repair
The Landscapes of Repair project, co-founded in 2020 by Professor Amanda Crawley Jackson in collaboration with forumZFD in Kosovo, led to a range of creative outputs, including exhibitions, publications, a high-profile international symposium and an interactive website. CRiSAP has continued the collaboration, exploring the role of sound in memorialisation and healing. Workshops brought together local artists and international experts to explore how sound-based experiences can evoke and preserve collective memories of trauma. Participants created soundscapes using field recordings, which were later shared with the public as part of a collective reflection process. Although logistical and cultural variations emerged, the project illuminated the need for long-term engagement and deeper collaboration between artists and local participants.
Building trauma-informed pedagogies and practices
A key lesson from these activities has been the need to develop pedagogies and practices that consider the mental health of artists, practitioners and the communities they serve. This involves creating frameworks that prioritise care, self-awareness and sensitivity to the personal impact of working with traumatic subjects. It also includes supporting artists in navigating the emotional labour of addressing sensitive topics and encouraging institutions to adopt practices that safeguard participants' mental health. Additionally, this approach considers the potential impact of exhibitions or public art on audiences, ensuring that certain themes or objects do not inadvertently trigger distress.
Placemaking outcomes
More accessible
Developing practices that are open to all, with activities and resources designed to be inclusive and participatory.
More equitable
By promoting fairness in cultural representation and resource distribution, addressing historical imbalances.
More inclusive
Creating collaborative environments where diverse perspectives are integrated.
More sustainable
Through long-term partnerships and ongoing community engagement, ensuring that the benefits continue to support healing and growth over time.
More innovative
Introducing new practices and methods to transform traditional approaches to memorialisation, expanding boundaries and engaging communities in different ways.
More prosperous
By fostering cultural production and providing opportunities for skills development, these activities may contribute to economic resilience
Nurturing collaborative and sustained engagement
Cultural and linguistic barriers
Financial sustainability
Emotional impact on practitioners and participants
Approach: Developing frameworks that provide self-care, emotional support and trauma awareness training for both practitioners and participants. Workshops and creative processes are designed to be sensitive to emotional triggers, ensuring that all involved have access to mental health resources and can process trauma in a safe, supportive environment.Legacy
These initiatives provide examples for how post-conflict societies can address collective memory, using art, sound and participatory processes to support long-term recovery. By prioritising inclusivity and mental well-being, the approach supports communities to actively shape their environments and engage with their past.