37TH SESSION
OF THE INTERNATIONAL AUSCHWITZ COUNCIL
The session started at the World War II Museum in Gdańsk with the nomination presentation for Prof. Michael Berenbaum, who was absent from the previous session.
Auschwitz Museum Director, Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, provided a summary of the significant events that had taken place at the Auschwitz Memorial in the past four years since the last IAC meeting and the Museum's plans for the immediate future. He began his speech with an analysis of attendance.
'After the slump associated with COVID-19, attendance gradually increased in 2022. Based on the number of visitors at the end of May, which was over half a million, it's safe to assume that the total attendance this year may reach 1.7 million. The increase in attendance also translates into budget security for the Museum,' said Piotr Cywiński.
One of the notable events mentioned by Director Cywiński was the celebrations of the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the March of the Living, which attracted almost 10,000 people. Thanks to generous donations from the March and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, conservation efforts have commenced to preserve the 8,000 shoes that once belonged to the youngest victims of Auschwitz.
The director also spoke about several educational projects intended for different audiences, including the post-pandemic relaunch of joint educational activities between the Museum and Yad Vashem educators in Poland and Israel, a study day devoted to teaching about the history of the Second World War and the Holocaust in Ukraine, and new projects in collaboration with German companies, such as a seminar for senior managers of Bayer AG from Germany.
'The path was paved by Volkswagen. Our cooperation has been going on for three decades. After the pandemic, VW volunteer groups returned to the Memorial. Something that seemed very difficult just 10 years ago is now possible. More companies are inquiring about the feasibility of various programmes. This helps to remove certain barriers of silence,' Piotr Cywiński emphasised.
He also announced the major forthcoming event organised by the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust, a methodological conference aimed at experts from across the globe on "Tools from the «here and now» in teaching about the «then» - new technologies in education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust".
'The issue of technological innovations raises several difficult questions, as education is, first and foremost, based on authenticity. Our conferences offer experts worldwide the opportunity to meet and debate. The conference will also herald the launch of a completely new and unique online guided tour of the Memorial,' said Piotr Cywiński.
The Director also mentioned the opening of the exhibition "Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away." at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California's Simi Valley and several exhibition events at the Museum, particularly those implemented with financial support from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. In May, calls for tenders were issued for the exhibition "Poles in KL Auschwitz. Inhabitants of the Oświęcim area during World War II", which will be presented in block 15 at the Auschwitz I site, and the first part of the New Main Exhibition.
In presenting the Museum's new publications, the director stressed the importance of the new calendar of events at Auschwitz. 'The first volume has been published, and the subsequent four will be released this year. It is an entirely new work resulting from many years of research by the entire team at our Research Centre. A detailed chronology of the camp's history would be the foundation for the creation of the monograph,' said director Cywiński who also announced the commencement of a two-year project funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, aimed at producing a comprehensive monograph on the fate of the Roma deported to Auschwitz.
According to the director, the most momentous event this year will be the launch of the new Visitor Services Center, scheduled to open on 14 June, marking the 83rd anniversary of the deportation of the first Poles to the German camp Auschwitz. Next year, a hostel will also be built next to it. It is a massive investment project funded by the European Union, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Museum and private donors.
The conservation-related issues discussed included the completed work on the former commandant's office building roof and the window woodwork
The activities of the Auschwitz Memorial and the work of the Stutthof Museum and its branch, the Piaśnica Museum in Wejherowo, were the main topics discussed during the two-day meeting. This was the first time in the history of the IAC that a meeting was held in Gdańsk and Sztutowo. The session was chaired by dr hab. Grzegorz Berendt.
Paweł Sawicki