Teaching Contentious Narratives: Lessons from Spain

The Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (CHGS) at the University of Minnesota is now accepting applications for the 2026 CHGS Teacher Workshop: Teaching Controversial Narratives: Lessons from Spain, July 13-20 in Barcelona.

This workshop will bring together Minnesota teachers from across different disciplines to explore Spain’s 20th century history and present day memory politics, to learn how both past and present day contentious histories and narratives are taught. The Spanish case will serve as a lens through which we will explore other themes, such as challenges of genocide and Holocaust education, and the recent emergence of hate speech narratives in the US and Europe in the context of emerging extremist movements.  

The workshop will consist of guest lectures by experts, seminars, group discussions, site visits, and collaborative sessions. We aim to create a space for teachers to share the challenges they have encountered, learn from one another, deepen their understanding of Spanish history and memory politics, and develop critical pedagogical tools they can use in their classrooms.

CHGS will provide accommodation for the week-long workshop in Barcelona, local transportation, daily breakfast and lunch, two dinners, and will cover all expenses related to site visits and excursions. Teachers may apply for a travel scholarship to help offset airfare costs. 

If selected, the following time commitment is expected: two one-hour online meetings before the workshop (these will take place after school hours or weekends), full attendance at the week-long workshop in Barcelona, and one follow-up online meeting sometime in the Fall of 2026. 

Please note that some familiarity with Spanish is required. 

To apply, please fill out the following Google Form by February 28th, 2026. An additional 500-word personal statement is required and must be sent separately to [email protected]. 

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.