‘Against Forgetting – For Democracy’ prize awarded to Emmie Arbel and Barbara Yelin

We are pleased to announce that both Barbara Yelin and Emmie Arbel have been awarded the prestigious “Against Forgetting – For Democracy” prize for 2025 by Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie e. V. (Against Forgetting – For Democracy). The prize honours their collaborative work on the graphic novel Emmie Arbel. The Colour of Memory.

The award recognizes individuals, initiatives, and/or projects whose outstanding work aligns with the association’s goals of developing appropriate forms of engagement with the past and/or right-wing extremism, and clearly demonstrating democratic values.

Barbara Yelin is being honoured for her artistic achievement and Emmie Arbel for her courage in revisiting and sharing her memories through a four-year creative collaboration. The recognition of this work underlines the power of graphic storytelling in keeping memory alive and fostering democratic awareness.

The award jury, chaired by former President of the Federal Constitutional Court Andreas Voßkuhle, shared this statement as part of the reasons for awarding Barbara and Emmie the prize:

“Barbara Yelin’s drawings convey history vividly and accessibly, in a way that text alone could not. At the same time, they do justice to the multifaceted nature of Arbel’s biography. 80 years after the end of the war, the book thus speaks to people of very different generations.”

Thank you to Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie e. V. for this recognition and congratulations to Barbara Yelin and Emmie Arbel for this well-deserved honour. The award ceremony will take place on 22 November 2025 in Berlin. Stay tuned for further updates!

Find more information on Against Forgetting – For Democracy e.V.’s website here.