Anne Frank Exhibition
The Alley opens the NI tour
of Anne Frank [+You}
The Anne Frank Trust UK today opened a stunning month long exhibition “Anne Frank + You” at the Alley Theatre in Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Joining the official launch was Sammy Wilson MP MLA and Mrs Inge Radford, one of Ireland’s last Jewish Holocaust survivors assisted in the opening of the exhibition. Mrs Radford lost her widowed mother and 5 brothers to the Nazi concentration camps in 1942.
Launched in 2005 to give Anne Frank’s story and message a contemporary profile for today, this major display includes a near life size replica of Anne’s bedroom in hiding. It has a strong focus on the issues of identity and moral choice we face in 21st century society. The opening in Strabane is particularly significant as it is the first time the “Anne Frank + You” exhibition has visited Northern Ireland.
Starting from Anne Frank’s writings and experiences, the exhibition is a journey of self exploration for the visitor. Themes that Anne wrote about in her diary, such as racial hatred, war and conflict and the value of democracy and freedom, are presented in an up to date and contemporary fashion, along with filmed interviews with teenagers discussing their own views, concerns and hopes for the future.
“The story of Anne Frank not only reminds us about what has happened in the past, but also what is happening in society today. This exhibition will be an ideal way to inform our community about the need to stand together and support those in society who need our help and support. Anne’s short life shows us what can happen when hatred and extremism goes unchallenged, we therefore intend to challenge and stimulate discussion within our community about what are the best ways forward in offering everyone an equal place in society today” stated Cllr Kieran McGuire, Chairman of Strabane District Council.
Steve Nimmons, special advisor to the project - “The Anne Frank exhibition 
provides an exceptional opportunity for young people to discuss and truly understand the value of tolerance and its importance in our society. The beauty of Anne’s writing, the tragedy of her short life, and yet the ultimate truth that hope and understanding triumph over repression and hatred is exceptional, powerful and ultimately life changing.”
Strabane District Council and the Community Relations Council are funding this project in association with the Cultural, Heritage and Identity programme, which is supported by the Peace III programme and managed for the Special EU programmes Body by the North West Peace III Cluster.
The significance of the opening is further amplified, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.
Anne Frank exhibitions have been visited by over 3 million people from across Britain. They continue to provide a unique experience for visitors to learn more about the story of Anne and the history of the Holocaust. For further information on the exhibition contact the Alley Theatre on 028 7138 4444 or visit www.facebook.com/thealleytheatre.
Anne Frank [+You} NI launch
coming to the Alley.
Strabane’s Alley Theatre is set to host the Northern Ireland launch of the award winning Anne Frank (+You} exhibition this May confirmed representatives from Strabane District Council.
This groundbreaking exhibition will have its official Northern Ireland launch at the Alley, which organisers say will be supported by a number of workshops and performances for people across Northern Ireland to engage in.
Famous around the world, this poignant exhibition is anticipated to draw in visitors and groups from across the island of Ireland, keen to understand more about the legacy left by Anne Frank and showing the relevance in today’s society of views she expressed in her celebrated diary. At the heart of the exhibition, entitled Anne Frank (+ You} is a life-size replica of her bedroom in the secret annexe above her father's business premises in Amsterdam. This small space is where the Frank family, and four other Jews, spent more than two years in hiding before being betrayed to the Nazis in the summer of 1944.
Visitors will experience the room where Anne confided in her diary about her hopes, ambitions and perceptions about conflict and the human condition. To reach the “secret annexe” room in the exhibition, visitors must first pass through
a multi-media display which explores the themes that dominated her life and a tunnel on the Holocaust and genocides around the world. Themes of Identity, Prejudice and Racism, Conflict and Peace, Moral Responsibility, and Freedom and Democracy are all addressed on giant exhibition panels which carry significant excerpts from Anne's diary, along with examples of present day issues in picture and print, whilst televisual displays of teenagers of today discussing the issues in a 21st century context can also be viewed.
The exhibition was developed and is run by the Anne Frank Trust UK, who worked alongside its sister organisation the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and an award winning creative team, to create a unique and challenging experience for young people that will interest and motivate them. Strabane District Council and the Peace III Programme, managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the North West Peace III Cluster Group are funding the exhibition, which will see thousands tour the exhibition whilst its runs at the Alley Theatre between May 10th - May 29th.
“The story of Anne Frank not only reminds us about what has happened in the past, but also what is happening in society today. This exhibition will be an ideal way to inform our community about the need to stand together and support those in society who need our help and support, whilst protecting their human rights. Anne’s short life shows us what can happen when hatred and extremism goes unchallenged, we therefore intend to challenge and stimulate discussion within our community about what are the best ways forward in offering everyone an equal place in society today” stated Kieran McGuire, Chairman of Strabane District Council.
“The Trust promotes positive attitudes in young people towards differences particularly in age, gender, ethnicity, religion and disability, and encourages people to reject all forms of bigotry. The Trust’s Executive Director Gillian Walnes explained: “The intention of Anne Frank [+ You} is that visitors, particularly youngsters aged 11 to 17, will be able to relate the horrors that befell victims of the Holocaust to the world around them, and recognise the need to challenge injustice and to contribute to a society built on mutual respect and moral courage to prevent such things happening again. This is an exhibition unlike any other that is touring Northern Ireland and will be a major talking point.”
“Over three million people have taken part in Anne Frank Projects in the UK and we are delighted that Strabane District Council and the North West community can share the clear message of peace and tolerance that Anne Frank left to the world over 65 years ago this year” stated Philip Faithful, Chief Executive of Strabane District Council. “Her legacy has not only taught us about the horrors of the Holocaust, but can also serve as an inspiration to young people, making them strive to make a difference in their own lives by becoming more active citizens.”
Richard Collins, a leading Northern Ireland Holocaust expert commented “The Anne Frank (+You} Exhibition” offers visitors the inspiration to break down personal and community suspicions and mistrust, and instead open the hand of friendship across the barriers. Young people in schools, community groups, colleges and so many other places are being inspired by Anne’s story, urged to look beyond our own small ambitions and to create a greater vision which will benefit all of humanity.”
Ms Walnes from the Anne Frank Trust UK concluded she was particularly pleased the exhibition is being launched in Strabane’s prestigious Alley Theatre and Art Gallery, “To have such a visually exciting multimedia display in this stunning venue is going to be terrific for us and the North West of Ireland.” For further information on the forthcoming exhibition visit www.alley-theatre.com or contact the Alley Box Office on 028 7138 4444.
Want to be part of the
Anne Frank (+You} Exhibition?
The call is going out across the North West for potential volunteers looking to come forward and get involved in the new Anne Frank (+You} exhibition, set to be held at the Alley Theatre, Strabane from May 10th until May 29th.
Cllr K Maguire Chair of Strabane District Council stated “Strabane District Council are extremely privileged to be kick starting the NI tour of this prestigious exhibition which we hope will have a significant contribution from the local community. We are calling on the volunteers across the district to come out and support us in the running of this event which will attract a huge influx of visitors to our district throughout the month of May.” Marirose Cunningham Volunteer Co-ordinator with the North West Volunteer Centre has teamed up with the Strabane District Council and the Alley Theatre in a bid to recruit a number of volunteers to help out take visitors and groups around the exhibition as official guides. “If you have just a few hours a week or even a few weeks to spare where you could be a guide or steward for the exhibition then we would like to hear from you. Volunteer roles include welcoming visitors to the exhibition, distributing information, school tour guides and bookshop stewards – full training will be provided by the Anne Frank Trust. Volunteers will be required for 3/4hour sessions on a rota basis. Travel and lunch expenses will be paid” stated Marirose.
Closing date to register your interest as a volunteer is 16th April 2010. Anyone interested in volunteering must be 18 yrs of age or over. For further information on becoming a volunteer at the exhibition please contact either Marirose Cunningham (North West Volunteer Centre, tel: 02871 38 18 00, email: strabane@volunteeringnorthwest.co.uk) or
Jacqui Doherty at the Alley Theatre, tel: 02871 88 47 60, email: jdoherty@strabanedc.com
For further information on the forthcoming exhibition click here or contact the Alley Box Office on 028 7138 4444.
If you are interested in touring the exhibition with a guide, Group Bookings will be accepted from April 13th onwards.
This project has been funded by:
A programme supported by the Peace III Programme, managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the North West Peace III Cluster Group.
The exhibition has also been supported by the Community Relations Council. For further information on CRC visit http://www.community-relations.org.uk/
