Scotland’s National Holocaust Memorial Day Event 2007

Fife Council, Adam Smith College, Fife and many other public sector partners are proud to have been working together to support the development of a major, innovative and creative education programme that has run from the 8th – 28th January this year,   ‘The Anne Frank + You’
Festival

This interactive, multi site collection of world class exhibitions, performances, workshops, films and other activities has been a remarkable achievement, built on the impact on a few young people that was created by a schools trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau in November 2005, organised by Jim Murphy MP and Ken Macintosh MSP from East Renfrewshire.

Their and their fellow pupils determination, resolution and commitment to find creative and engaging ways to pass on what had been learnt on that trip to others has been supported at every stage by their schools and teachers, Fife’s Education Service and Fife’s Cultural and Community Services. The Festival has been dedicated to utilising creativity and culture in learning about the Holocaust and the lessons we must take from that dark time into our lives today.

Its development was made possible only by strong partnership working and support offered and given generously between and across Fife Council Services, Adam Smith College, the Anne Frank Trust UK and many other organisations. We are also indebted to our many Volunteers.

In that spirit of youthful innovation, creativity and education the children and young people of Fife  - while being supported by some very special guests, will lead this creative commemorative event for Scotland, marking the 27th January’s International Holocaust Memorial Day  with a special cultural event taking place in Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy on the evening of Sunday 28th January ay 7.30 p.m.

Our world today is a complex one to grow up in and it is clear that the belief that race, religion, disability or sexuality make some people’s lives worth less than others’. Anti- Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination still continue to scar lives and opportunities on a daily basis.

Making sure that current and future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon the consequences of those causes then and today has been the aim of the ‘Anne Frank + You’ Festival in Fife and we are proud to be hosting the 2007 Holocaust Memorial Day Event for Scotland. We hope you will join us for this, and for the many other exhibitions and events that are open to all on that day.

 

Anne Frank + You Festival
Programme of Highlight Events on Sunday 28th January

 

At 11.00 a.m.  join us in Kirkcaldy Town House for A Family Audience with Mr Bernd ‘Buddy’ Elias.

 

Mr Elias has travelled from Switzerland to be with us here on this day.
He is the first cousin of Anne and Margot Frank, his mother Leni Elias being the sister of Otto Frank.  Brought up in Switzerland, Buddy, his parents and his brother Stephan survived the War and did not become Holocaust victims. Buddy went on to become a famous actor and ice dancer and since 1997 has been the President of the Anne Frank-Fonds which was founded in 1963 by Otto Frank to support international initiatives to promote peace and understanding.
Mr Elias is married to Gerti and has two sons and four grandchildren.
He would be pleased to meet and talk to you and your family about his cousin Anna, her family and the work he has dedicated his life to.

 

From 2.00 p.m. visit the unique collection of innovative exhibitions that form the centre features of the ‘Anne Frank + You’ Festival

 

Walk the very short distance between Kirkcaldy Town House and Adam Smith College for a special viewing of the cutting edge and dramatic multi media exhibition aimed at young people,  ‘Anne Frank + You’ and the moving and powerful ‘Testimony’ exhibition, funded by the Scottish Executive and created through Heartstone’s work with Scottish survivors of the Holocaust.
A further 4-minute walk will bring you to Kirkcaldy Memorial Gardens where you can view the specially created public artwork, designed by young students from Adam Smith College and now permanently sited to mark this Festival and International Holocaust Memorial Day 2007. Its creation and placement symbolises the determination of all young people, organisations and public services involved in the ‘Anne Frank + You’ Festival to challenge racism and intolerance between peoples, and in so doing to work towards a Scotland that is a safe and respectful place to live for all people, no matter what their cultural or racial differences.
Just behind this artwork sits The Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery. This venue provides the beautiful and atmospheric home for ‘Anne Frank & Family’  - An Exhibition of Photographs by Otto Frank, never before seen in Scotland.
Anne’s father was an amateur photographer and used a high quality Leica camera. He captured many childhood photos of Anne, her older sister Margot, and other family members and friends. The Franks had a family life of love, humour and pride. This exhibition presents those happy times, and gives a different perspective to this largely unfamiliar time in Anne’s life.

 

At 5.00 p.m. make your way to just behind Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery where many people, young and old and from across Scotland will be collecting to participate in Kirkcaldy’s Winter Night Candlelight Procession for Peace, setting off at 6.00 p.m.

This short processional event will begin at 6.00 p.m. and will unroll in a slow even pace through the War Memorial Gardens, eventually finishing in Kirkcaldy Town Square. The gentle walk will be illuminated and enriched by TePooka’s Performance Arts Company that has created magical and unique light installations and creative tableaux especially for this event. The procession will end with a powerful display created by young people and words of remembrance and hope delivered at the steps of the Town Hall.
There will be a signing book available to all who wish to commit themselves to a personal pledge to live in a manner that honours the principles behind the words of Chief Rabbi Jonathon Sacks: -

 

“…to recognise and respect the humanity of others, of those who are not like me, who do not live as I live or believe as I believe”