Holocaust Centre North, based at the University of Huddersfield, is launching a brand new programme of weekend events, talks and family activities from Sunday April 28.
The centre, now open from 11am on Sundays, aims to engage visitors of all ages with its permanent exhibition.
Holocaust Centre North tells a global history of the Holocaust through a northern lens, sharing over 120 local stories and materials from survivors and refugees who rebuilt their lives in the north of England after escaping or surviving Nazi persecution.
This new and largely free programme of weekly events include talks, workshops, story-telling and interactive activities which will all bring to life the centre’s collections and archives and its themes of survival, persecution, history, loss, migration, resilience and hope.
To kick off this new Sunday programme on Sunday April 28, history lovers big and small are invited to join the centre’s dedicated learning team for exciting activities that will test skills and knowledge, and see if they have what it takes to become a history detective!
This event is free and drop-ins are welcome. All ages are welcome and no pre-booking is necessary for this activity.
Future events include:
Sunday May 5 – Zines have historically been the medium through which individuals, groups and marginalised communities have been able pursue shared ideas and subjects through making and distributing hand-made publications. Come along and make your own zine reflecting on your experiences of visiting Holocaust Centre North.
Sunday May 12 – How does a family learn about their Holocaust history? Join third generation Holocaust survivor Elissa Winston to learn about her family’s story of the Holocaust and her grandmother’s story of survival, as well as considering the lasting effects on a family.
Start time: 1pm. Cost £5 or £3.50 for seniors and University of Huddersfield students.
Booking:- https://hcn.org.uk/events/my-grandma-and-me-a-family-talk-of-survival/
Sunday May 19 – This talk will discuss the work Louise K Wilson produced as part of Encountering Survival, the series of audio guides made for the Through Our Eyes exhibition at Holocaust Centre North https://audioguides.hcn.org.uk/.
Operating in the space between museum interpretation and sound art, these works were created to prompt the visitor to reflect both on the centre’s collection and museum display, but importantly on what is not there – whether lost, destroyed, stolen, left behind or immaterial.
A new work for Encountering Survival – which focuses on the impact of intergenerational trauma through the experiences of two families – will be introduced by Wilson at this event.
Start time: 1pm
Book here – https://hcn.org.uk/events/encountering-survival-audio-guide-launch/
Sunday June 2 – Tracy Craggs is Holocaust Centre North’s head of collections but she has also interviewed members of the armed forces for 25 years, both for her doctoral thesis ‘An Unspectacular War? Reconstructing the History of the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment during the Second World War’ and also on behalf of museums and archives across the UK.
Her first book resulted from a promise she made to the veterans of the 2nd Battalion to tell their story. Her talk aims to bring to life the memories of some of the men who landed on Sword Beach on D-Day.
She will describe, in their own words, what it was like to prepare for, and take part in, this momentous day.
Start time: 1pm
Book here – https://hcn.org.uk/events/book-launch-an-unspectacular-war/
Sunday June 9 – At 1pm join an exclusive tour around the centre’s permanent exhibition ‘Through Our Eyes’ and hear some of the stories of survivors not included in the exhibition.
Sunday June 16 – ‘A Flower Is Not A Rat’, an afternoon of stories, music and humour from storyteller Ruth Steinberg. A thought-provoking performance!
Start time: 1pm
Book here – https://hcn.org.uk/events/a-flower-is-not-a-rat/
Cost – £5 / £3.50 for seniors and University of Huddersfield students.
Hannah Randall, head of learning at Holocaust Centre North, said: “Our Sunday events give new audiences the chance to engage with our work who normally may not be able to due to their work or family commitments.
“Sundays also give us the space to offer programming outside our usual offer to bring history to life through hands on activities, talks and creative programming.”
Holocaust Centre North is open every Sunday for visitors from 11am-3.30pm; and on Mondays to Thursdays 10am-4pm.
For more information go to https://hcn.org.uk/
Main image of children drawing by: Juile Najim
