Paul Salmons, one of the curators of the exhibition presented the assumptions of the project and its implementation, in which he drew attention to the unique nature of the travelling exhibition highlighting its momentum and the vast number of original items presented. The exhibition covers an area of 2,500 sqm and contains over 600 artefacts, several of which have never been presented to the public. The majority comes from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, but there are also items and personal accounts from 20 other collections and institutions, including Yad Vashem and USHMM. Paul Salmons also drew attention to the tremendous interest the exhibition aroused in Madrid and presented plans for its presentation in the next 7 years. The emphasised that this success would not have been possible without the partnership with Auschwitz Museum. Appropriate conditions were provided for the items on exhibition in compliance with the Museum’s conservation requirements, thanks to which many original exhibits were presented. It is a certain semblance of the authenticity of Auschwitz, and therefore encourages further exploration of the subject and perhaps also motivates one to visit the Memorial.
Yessica San Roman, a member of the Spanish delegation to the IHRA, presented the method of promotion of the exhibition in Madrid and the results of the campaign.
The discussion emphasised the importance of organising such exhibitions to disseminate the memory of the Holocaust in the world, especially in countries that are remotely situated from the Auschwitz Memorial. Attention was paid to the title, which is thought-provoking, especially today, in the age of globalisation. It was underlined that international cooperation in the creation of the exhibition made it possible to present a broad perspective on Auschwitz – not only through the prism of its history, but also the broader context in which it functioned - not just as a symbol of the Holocaust, but the suffering of other groups of people. Questions were asked about the connection of the concept of the exhibition with the currently prepared main exhibition at the Museum. Hope was expressed that the concept and state of progress of work for its implementation would be presented at the next plenary session.
In March 2019, Italy will hand over the presidency of the IHRA to the next member state, which is Luxembourg. Thanking the Italian Presidency, we wish the Luxembourg Presidency a fruitful term. Furthermore, we convey our words of respect and appreciation to all those at the IHRA Permanent Office who on a daily basis ensure the continuity of the organisation’s activity and assist the diplomats and experts in their work!