The “Place of Remembrance” in Graz
With the initiative “Place of Remembrance,” an extraordinary meeting space will be created in the heart of Graz in April 2026, dedicated to a topic that often remains hidden: farewell.
From April 7 to 10, Mariahilfer Platz will become a place of silence, exchange, and reflection - open to all who wish to pause, remember, or engage with questions surrounding death and grief.
At the center of the initiative is a walk-in installation that deliberately uses public space to bring the topic of death out of its social taboo. A symbolic gravesite, embedded in a park-like setting with trees, plants, and seating areas, will create an atmosphere that invites visitors to linger. Visitors and passersby are invited to write down their thoughts, memories, or questions on cards and attach them to a central “Tree of Remembrance.”
A space for encounters and personal reflection
The initiative is designed as a low-threshold offering for all generations. The questions “What does grief mean to you?”, “What does remembrance mean?”, and “What does commemoration mean?” form the emotional core and encourage conscious reflection on loss and connection.
The event will be accompanied by funeral speakers Albin Sampel and Lena Mileder, as well as trained psychological professionals available for conversations. A specially designed “cemetery bench” provides space for personal encounters and support during difficult moments. In this way, the initiative combines individual experience with social dialogue, creating a place where grief becomes visible and shareable.
A diverse program and engaging experiences
In addition to freely exploring the remembrance space, visitors can expect a varied program. This includes contributions from the funeral speakers, musical elements, and talks on topics such as advance planning, digital legacy, and new forms of remembrance.
Floral design also plays a central role in the initiative: florist Petra Hütter will create wreaths and arrangements live, making the importance of flowers as expressions of remembrance and appreciation tangible. The actress and mezzo-soprano at Graz Opera, Uschi Plautz, will also be present.
Raising awareness for culture, sustainability, and regional value creation
A key aim of the campaign is to bring the importance of remembrance culture and mourning rituals more strongly into public awareness. At the same time, it seeks to highlight the role of cemetery gardeners, florists, and horticulturists as custodians of this culture. Their work combines nature, craftsmanship, and emotion—and plays a vital role in creating dignified farewells.
The initiative also addresses questions of sustainability and the conscious design of farewells. Most of the materials used are reusable or environmentally friendly, and the installation itself is temporary and will be dismantled after the event. This reflects a mindful approach to resources, which is also gaining importance in the context of grief and remembrance.
A place that connects
With the “Place of Remembrance,” not only a temporary installation is created, but also an impulse toward a more open approach to death and grief in our society. The event invites people to pause, engage in conversation, and discover new forms of remembrance.
It makes visible that grief is part of life - and that shared rituals, floral design, and places of remembrance can help process loss and preserve connection beyond death.
The event is kindly supported by federal and regional governments as well as the European Union. A big thanks also go to the partners: Bestattung PAX, Blumen Edler, Blumen Plettig, Innok Robotics, Kulturfuchs Tours Albin Sampel, Stiller Begleiter, funeral speaker Lena Mileder, Steinmetz Häfele, Wiener Verein sorgenfreier.abschied, and WKO Steiermark.
