Newcastle will be coming together as a City to help mark this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day with a series of poignant and emotional events.
The theme of the Holocaust Memorial Day programme in 2016 is ‘Don’t Stand By’.
It provides an opportunity to reflect upon the fact that during The Holocaust and other genocides, the passivity of bystanders allowed the perpetrators of persecution and mass murder to act with impunity.
But the events will also provide an opportunity to celebrate those who were courageous enough to intervene, and provide hope and protection to those who suffered.
The programme of events will take place across a variety of local venues and will include exhibitions, lectures, films, performances, talks and musical concerts.
The Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr Ian Graham will be in attendance at numerous events in the programme includingMusic from The Holocaust (27th Jan / 1.00pm / Newcastle University Music Department); Classical Recital (27th Jan / 7.00pm / Rutherford Hall, Northumbria University); and Holocaust Memorial Day Remembrance Event (28th Jan / 6.30pm / Herschel Building, Newcastle University).
Holocaust Memorial Day event programme at a glance:
Monday 16th – Sunday 31st January 2016 / Anne Frank: A History for Today / Exhibition / St. Nicholas’ Cathedral / Free
Monday 25th January – Sunday 31st January / Children Under Hitler / Exhibition / Level 3, Newcastle City Library / Free
Tuesday 26th January / How COULD They?! – The German Road to Genocide / Lecture – Dr. Beate Muller / Bewick Hall, Newcastle City Library / Free (booking essential)
Tuesday 26th & Wednesday 27th January / My Nazi Legacy / film / Tyneside Cinema / Various prices / 17:50 (Tues) &18:15 (Wed)
Wednesday 27th January / 11.00am / Heroes of Humanity / Lecture and performance / Bewick Hall, Newcastle City Library / Free
Wednesday 27th January / 1.00pm / Music from The Holocaust / Concert – Newcastle University Music Department, introduced by Dr Ian Biddle, Holocaust Music Scholar / Atrium, Newcastle City Library / Free
Wednesday 27th January / 2.00pm / History Club for Adults with Learning Disabilities / Rm. 4, Newcastle City Library / Free (booking essential)
Wednesday 27th January / 2.00pm / One Family’s Experience of the Holocaust / Talk – Eva Clark, Holocaust Survivor / Presentation Hall, Design Building, City Campus East, Northumbria University / Free
Wednesday 27th January / 7.00pm / Classical Recital for Holocaust Memorial Day / Concert – arranged and promoted by the Brundibar Arts Festival / Rutherford Hall, Northumbria University (free / booking essential)
Wednesday 27th January / 7.00pm / BENT / Film, programmed by Northern Pride / Alphabetti Theatre, 16 New Bridge Street / Free (booking essential)
Thursday 28th January / 6.00pm / The Boy From Bamberg / Talk – George Loebl, Holocaust Survivor, introduced by Brenda Dinsdale / Bewick Hall, Newcastle City Library / Free (booking essential)
Thursday 28th January / 6.30pm / Holocaust Memorial Day Remembrance Event / A commemorative event for the whole city, hosted by Newcastle University Jewish Society / Herschel Building, Newcastle University / Free (booking essential)
Saturday 30th January / 10.00am / The Search, directed by Fred Zinnemann / Film (12+) / Newcastle City Library / Free (booking essential)
Sunday 31st January / 10.00am – 3.00pm / Klezmer Pop-up Day, performed by HorovoD / Informal performances / Arch 16 café (10am); Lit & Phil (11am); Sage Gateshead (1pm); Ouseburn Farm (2.15pm) / Free
Tuesday 2nd February / 6.00pm / Porajmos, Confronting the Past, Facing the Future / Commemorative Event for victims of the Roma genocide / Millin Centre NE4 8TR / Free
Tuesday 2nd February / 7.00pm / Classical recital / Concert, arranged and promoted by Brundibar Arts Festival / Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University / £10.00 (concessions available)
The Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr Ian Graham, said: “I’m honoured to be representing the people of Newcastle during the comprehensive programme of events being staged across the City to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. It’s very important that as a society we never forgot the atrocities that took place and we continue, year-upon-year, to remember those people whose lives were taken from them in circumstances that changed the history of the world forever.
“It is also gratifying to see the variety of ways the messages are being voiced to gathered audiences through mediums such as film, music and performance. I hope that people across different generations join together and attend the events being hosted in Newcastle.”
The Holocaust Memorial Day programme in Newcastle will run throughout January and is being developed by a range of organisations including Newcastle Libraries, whose programme includes lectures, film and music; the Anne Frank Trust, whose exhibition Anne Frank: A History for Today is being hosted by St. Nicholas’ Cathedral; Northern Cultural Projects, who will work with school students to celebrate Muslims who protected Jews; and the Brundibar Arts Festival, whose schools programme, master classes and concerts are inspired by the music of the Holocaust.
There will also be projects that explore the persecution and protection of the Roma and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) communities; and a commemorative event, open to students and the public, hosted by students fromNewcastle University.
For more information about the Holocaust Memorial Day programme in Newcastle please contact Andrew Rothwell, Culture & Tourism Manager at Newcastle City Council by emailing andrew.rothwell@newcastle.gov.
People talking about Holocaust Memorial Day throughout the North East will be using the following hashtags on social media #NEdontstandby #HMD2016