Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has formally opened two new galleries at the Imperial War Museum in South London this evening. While visiting the gallery, the Duchess was reunited with Stephen Frank, a holocaust survivor she photographed for the exhibition.
Open to the public until 2022, the Holocaust section is part of a £30.7 million project, six years in preparation, which also incorporates adjoining Second World War Galleries and a learning centre.
The Holocaust areas alone contain some 2,000 objects and 4,000 images. Curator of the display, James Bulgin said the museum team had wanted to accurately depict “the massive diversity and plurality of Jewish life pre-war”. And also to show what it means to be persecuted — and to persecute — and to demonstrate that the Nazi atrocities were “done by people to people”.
Karen Pollock, the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Education Trust said: “The new Holocaust galleries at the Imperial War Museum play a leading role in this country, teaching future generations about the horrors of Europe’s past. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge’s presence demonstrates yet again the importance of educating about the Holocaust and her clear personal dedication to our cause. We could not be more grateful.”
