STONES AND STORIES
FOR THE UK HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL
Combining the tactile power of commemorative stones with an immersive digital experience, the Foundation Stones Map demonstrates the depth of the British public’s connections to the Holocaust
UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation
Over the past three years, more than 10,000 people across the UK have painted a commemorative stone for the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre to be built in London. The project, called Foundation Stones, invites everyone to paint a stone that will become part of the Memorial’s foundations. Inspired by the Jewish custom of laying small stones on headstones and graves, every stone is a promise to remember the past and to build a future free from antisemitism and all forms of hate. At its heart it fosters a creative and meaningful connection with the new Memorial, which aims to tell the British story of the Holocaust, a narrative not well known or understood by many.
On Yom HaShoah, the Foundation Stones Map was launched online. It is an immersive trail of 27 stones and the stories behind them. The stones, which in real life are strikingly beautiful objects, have been painstakingly rendered in 3D by being photographed hundreds of times. The effect is striking: when you view them in the map, you feel as though you can touch them and hold them in your hand.
To explore the Foundation Stones Map visit: www.foundationstones.uk
Dr Virginia Crompton, CEO of Big Ideas, which runs the Foundation Stones project on behalf of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation said: “It’s the marrying of the fundamental simplicity of a painted stone with an immersive digital space that I find incredibly moving. It translates the tactile experience of holding a stone, turning it and seeing it from all angles to a compelling virtual experience that is both poignant and profound.”
The trail begins in Liverpool at the Everton Football Club stadium where a woman who accompanied young Premier League players on an educational trip to the Auschwitz Memorial Museum transformed her stone into a small shoe. The woman was inspired by the stone’s natural shape and size to replicate a child’s shoe. It is a moving tribute to the 1.5 million children who were murdered, a connection you hear narrated with gravitas and warmth by award winning actor Juliet Stevenson.
The trail ends next to the Houses of Parliament in London, with a beautiful stone covered in brightly coloured paint and created by a 98 year old woman for her mother who was murdered in Auschwitz.
Lord Pickles, Co-Chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, explains, “Every stone on this trail has a story or message for our new UK Holocaust Memorial in London.” Fellow Co-Chair Ed Balls, adds “By exploring the trail you discover the British public’s emotional connections to the history of the Holocaust, from families lost to the resilience of survivors.” And it’s the mapping of these stories in the places they connect to, that shows a rich tapestry of connections across every corner of the UK to this history.
The Foundation Stones Map was made possible with the support of Google.org. Rowan Barnett, Director of Google.org, Europe, Middle East & Africa, said: “The story of so many families, including my own, is intertwined with the history of the Holocaust. We all have a shared responsibility to promote Holocaust remembrance, and it's vital that we work together with governments and civil society to do that, as well as striving to combat antisemitism and ensuring a future free from hate.”
By releasing a series of curated trails on the Foundation Stones Map, the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation will bring the power of these beautiful commemorative objects to a wider audience. Foundation Stones is built on the idea that sharing thoughtful and emotional connections to history helps ensure its enduring legacy. The Foundation Stones Map takes this into an immersive digital space with great impact.