Anne Frank Exhibition Moves to Halifax

More than 8,000 students were among the 11,000 people who travelled to Sydney's Victoria Park during the past month to view an exhibition that reflects the horrors of hatred and discrimination.

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission closed its Cape Breton showing of Anne Frank in the World, 1929-1945 exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 15. The display, which is on loan from the Anne Frank Center in New York City, has now been moved to Halifax where it opens today, Oct. 24, at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History.

"We are thrilled with the turnout in Sydney," said Michael Noonan, acting director and CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. "Fifty-eight schools in the Cape Breton area took advantage of this opportunity to explore Anne's writings, historic photographs of the years between 1929 and 1945, and the panels that the commission had specially prepared for this Nova Scotia visit. Now we are looking forward to sharing the important messages with people in other areas of mainland Nova Scotia."

Anne Frank was 13 when she and seven other Jews went into hiding in a secret annex above her father's Amsterdam office during the Second World War. Her diary, discovered after German authorities raided the space and took away its occupants, details the more than two years that the group spent in the cramped quarters.

The travelling display honouring her was developed by the Anne Frank Foundation in Amsterdam and sponsored in the United States and Canada by the New York-based Anne Frank Center USA, Inc.

"This is a powerful portrayal about the impact of prejudice, discrimination and genocide. Some of the content could be considered graphic, that is why context is so important," said Mr. Noonan. "But the exhibition is also about hope and it speaks to the personal responsibility we all have in ensuring that hate is not allowed to diminish our communities."

Janet Maltby, manager of the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, said that many school groups from other areas of the province are already planning trips to Halifax.

"The school tours allow students and teachers to really explore and discuss complex issues of human rights," said Ms. Maltby.

But students are not the only ones who will be able to consider modern implications of age-old concerns.

"The museum, in partnership with the Atlantic Jewish Council, will also be hosting a series of public talks on Wednesday evenings in November in conjunction with this display," said Ms. Maltby. "This important series of presentations, readings and film will give museum visitors an opportunity to reflect on issues presented in the exhibition."

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Nova Scotians to understand the important role each of us can play in making the world a better place," said Jim Spatz, president of Southwest Properties, the presenting sponsor for the Halifax portion of the display's visit in Nova Scotia. "Southwest Properties is delighted to be able to help bring that story to Nova Scotia, and to participate in promoting the discussion of human rights."

Anne Frank in the World, 1929-1945, will remain at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History until Jan. 28, 2007.

For more information on the exhibit see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/humanrights/annefrank . For information on all museum events see the website at http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/ .