Anne Frank Exhibition: an inspiration to us all and hope for the future?

In January 2008, Northumbria hosted the first ever University exhibition of Anne Frank’s life and history. Arranged at very short notice over the Christmas period, it was organised by UCU and sponsored by the HR department. Held in Rutherford Hall, it was visited by staff, students and members of the local community and featured in an Evening chronicle article. The exhibition comprised of 11 large canvasses with displays of Anne’s life and the rise of Nazi Germany, as well as powerful and shocking images of the Holocaust. At the heart of Equality and Diversity is the need to promote dignity and respect. The policy of the University states ‘’ and in order for this to become a reality for the University community there is a need for ownership of this philosophy”. The paper proposes that there is a lot to be learnt from the initiative in January 2008 for Holocaust memorial day. It suggests that in future years (as part of the University’s legal responsibility to promote race equality ) there might be consideration of university and school led initiatives. This should emphasise the need to ensure ‘never again’ should such a situation arise and to ensure a commitment to anti racism on campus.