A World famous exhibition will soon be on display in Swansea.
The touring Anne Frank exhibition is coming to Swansea Museum on Victoria Road from April 9 to May 4.
Anne Frank became famous for a diary she kept as a teenager while in hiding during the Nazi occupation of Holland during the Second World War.
The exhibition is presented by the Anne Frank Trust and takes an historical and contemporary look at her story.
It’s split into themes that are still relevant in today’s society such as nationalism, human rights, tolerance, respect, personal responsibility and civil courage.
The story of Anne Frank includes 1939 to 1945- a timeframe that covers the persecution of Jewish people, her writing of the diary in a secret annexe in Amsterdam as well as Anne’s deportation and death in a Nazi concentration camp.
The exhibition puts Anne’s experiences of war, dictatorship, racism and identity through the rise of Hitler and the ensuing Holocaust in the context of British teenage life today.
Cllr Graham Thomas, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: “Anne Frank’s story is one of the most inspiring to have materialised from a very dark period of world history.
“This touring exhibition is particularly sought after and it’s a real feather in Swansea Museum’s cap that it’s coming here for several weeks.
“Anne Frank’s diary is a vital tool in teaching people about the horrors of the Holocaust as well as current issues prevalent in society today.
“I’m sure it will inform and educate people of all ages who visit Swansea Museum to have a look.”
White doves will be released at the exhibition launch in Swansea as a symbol of peace and visitors and schools will have the chance to write out messages of hope and peace to be stored in a time capsule. An olive tree will also be planted on April 30 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Anne Frank House Museum’s opening in Amsterdam and the time capsule will be buried beneath.
Visitors to the Swansea exhibition will be able to add their messages to a virtual tree linked to the Anne Frank House.
Anne Frank was recently voted the most inspiring and influential woman of the past century in a Daily Mirror poll to coincide with the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.
Her diary was first published in 1947 and has since been translated into over 70 different languages.
The Anne Frank Trust uses her life and diary to teach young people in Britain the importance of challenging prejudice and hatred and promoting positive attitudes towards difference.
Visit www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseamuseum or www.annefrank.org for more information or call 01792 653763.
