News
Second Session of the ICEAH Board
A meeting of the Program Board of the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust has taken place at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
Members of the Council acquainted themselves with, among other things, a report on the activities of the Center for the years 2007-2009, the demographic makeup of visitors to the Memorial in recent years, and changes in the procedures for individual visitors that were introduced at the Museum in August and September, when the greatest numbers of visitors came to the Museum.
“I think that we are facing new challenges as the situation in the world changes. Interest in the Holocaust is growing, young people are coming here from various places, and the Education Center must provide a precise and correct response to the issues that arise,” said Dorit Novak, Director of the International Center for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. “We are dealing with a professional staff in charge of the educational work of the Auschwitz Museum and I am truly convinced that, when we talk about education connected with the Holocaust, we must speak about commitment and imagination. I can see that you possess both of these traits.”
The building of so-called „Old Theatre”In 2008, almost seven thousand people took part in seminars, thematic conferences, and educational programs organized by the Center. This number could have been higher if the Center had more space at its disposal for educational activities. At present, the Museum has only two lecture rooms with up-to-date equipment. The new ICEAH premises in the building of the so-called “Old Theater” will solve this problem.
The Council familiarized itself with plans for the adaptation of the building, where there will be a modern auditorium, multimedia lecture rooms, space for temporary exhibitions, a library, and work stations for independent study. The adaptation work should commence in the coming year. The entire project will cost about 25 million zloty. The Council expressed full support for the efforts by the Museum to finance the adaptation and outfitting of the future home of the ICEAH.
“It seems to me that this building will ensure excellent conditions for educational work, and this is of the utmost importance because education should take place in the optimal conditions. I am convinced that this building will meet these requirements,” said Dr. Wolf Kaiser, deputy director of the House of the Wannsee Conference in Berlin.
The members of the Board approved a report on three years of work by the ICEAH and expressed their support for the efforts of the Center to intensify educational activity at the Museum and to attempt to reach out to new social groups through educational programs. During the session, there were also numerous suggestions as to the future educational work of the Center. Discussions touched upon the need for closer cooperation among similar institutions around the world and the creation of educational programs and materials for minorities, including Muslims. Attention was also drawn to the need for education about Auschwitz in multicultural communities, and for perspectives on Auschwitz from the point of view of various faiths.
Program Board
The Program Board of the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust was nominated by the Ministry of Culture on October 11, 2005. It has ten members, and provides advice about and assessment of the educational work of the Center.
Members of the Board
- Stefan Wilkanowicz – Chairman
- prof. Jonathan Webber – Deputy Chairman
- Dr Piotr M.A. Cywiński – Deputy Chairman
- Dr Piotr Paziński
- Dr hab. Barbara Engelking-Boni
- Dr Gideon Greif
- Serge Klarsfeld
- Marcello Pezzetti
- Wolf Kaiser
- Dorit Novak
