Timișoara, Romania, reflects on the 30th anniversary of the Romanian revolution with a somber tone, contrasting the festive commemorations of the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany. The city, which will be a European Capital of Culture in 2021, played a pivotal role in the resistance against Nicolae Ceaușescu's dictatorship, influenced by its diverse and well-informed population. Despite the revolution's initial success, the old power structures largely remain, and the events and their aftermath, including the deaths of over 800 people, remain unresolved. Romania's post-revolutionary journey has been marked by continued corruption and a lack of clear direction, leading to significant emigration in search of better opportunities.

Germany celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus movement with new museum openings in Weimar and Dessau, and an exhibition in Berlin. The Bauhaus, founded in 1919 in Weimar, became a hub for the European avant-garde and is recognized as the avant-garde of the 20th century in architecture, art, and design. Despite the forced dissolution by the Nazis in 1933, the legacy of the Bauhaus continues to influence modern architecture and design, with its principles visible in buildings worldwide. The new museums and exhibitions aim to honor this legacy and bring the Bauhaus's contributions to public consciousness.