9:26 a.m.
Call for Papers
Holocaust Exhibitions and Memory Culture
14 November 2024
The Norwegian Center for Holocaust and Minority Studies (HL-senteret), Norway, and the
Institute for Holocaust research in Sweden (IHRS) cordially invites scholars, curators and
educators in the field of Holocaust Studies and Education to the conference Holocaust
Exhibitions and Memory Culture at Villa Grande in Oslo, Norway.
Scandinavia’s first Holocaust memorial museum, the HL-senteret, opened its main exhibition
in 2006. In June 2023, The Swedish Holocaust Museum opened in Stockholm. This year, the
Dutch National Holocaust Museum opened to the public in Amsterdam and HL-senteret began
its work towards re-creating a new permanent exhibition. Next year commemorates 80 years
since the Holocaust ended, and while there has never been so many Holocaust Museums in the
world as today, there are hardly any survivors left to bear witness. The IHRA
International Memorial Museums Charter reminds us that memorial museums are responsible to
protect the dignity of the victims from all forms of exploitation and to ensure, beyond
conventional history lessons, that the interpretation of political events inspires
critical, independent thinking about the past. But how can this be done?
We are happy to announce that Professor Emile G. L. Schrijver, General Director of the
Jewish Cultural Quarter in Amsterdam will give the keynote speech on “Developing and
opening Amsterdam's National Holocaust Museum in a politicised era: curatorial
challenges and critical choices.” We welcome proposals reflecting on how we can tell the
story of the Holocaust today. Should we learn from or about the Holocaust? Who(m) should
be included? What is told and what choices do we make? Is an exhibition on a memorial site
met with different expectations than an exhibition in a museum? How does the national and
transnational memory culture(-s) affect how the Holocaust is exhibited? Acknowledging that
the story of the Holocaust is a story of de-humanization, we ask if it is possible to
re-humanize the victims and how? Who is telling the story and how can different victim
groups be included in telling the story? What role can digital technology take in
exhibiting the Holocaust for the future? And, are there best practices which we can learn
from?
We welcome paper presentations or poster options. The paper should present new and
original research, whereas the poster could present a current exhibition or best
practices. If you wish to present a paper or a poster, please submit an abstract of
150-200 words and a short bio via e-mail to the Director of IHRS on
karin.kvist.geverts@ihrs.se<mailto:karin.kvist.geverts@ihrs.se>. Deadline for
submission of abstracts is June 28. Confirmation of accepted abstracts will be given end
of July. The conference is free of charge. Travel expenses and lodging will be covered for
presenters.
On behalf of the organizing institutions,
Professor Jan Heiret
Professor Birgitta Svensson
Director of the HL-senteret Chair of
the IHRS
...................
Karin Kvist Geverts
Docent i historia och föreståndare/Associate professor and Director
Svenska institutet för Förintelseforskning
The Institute for Holocaust Research in Sweden (IHRS)
Phone: +46708990014
E-mail: karin.kvist.geverts(a)ihrs.se
Website: www.ihrs.se<http://www.ihrs.se>
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