Manchester Jewish Museum explores the untold stories of ‘Ordinary People’ on International Holocaust Memorial Day

Featuring a range of special events co-created with a group of ‘Creative Activists’, Manchester Jewish Museum marks international Holocaust Memorial Day on Fri 27 Jan with a programme of reflective performances and workshops based on Holocaust Memorial Day Trust UK’s chosen theme: ‘Ordinary People’.

By booking a free ticket to the museum open day, visitors can observe the culmination and celebration of the fascinating work carried out by the Manchester Jewish Museum’s Creative Activists – a group of people aged 16-30 who ‘seek to create powerful acts of sharing and connection with local communities to help make a positive difference in the world’ – after months of collaboration on the Imperial War Museum’s Second World War and Holocaust Partnership Programme.

At 10.30am, Manchester-based contemporary textile artist Laura Nathan unpacks her Jewish heritage with an installation of her moving, ruminative works, each imbued with questions, creative processes and personal narratives.

At 11am, the museum’s Song Writing and Poetry Group present songs from their contemplative, insightful poems, produced in collaboration with the Creative Activists, which were inspired by lesser-known Holocaust and Second World War stories from the museum’s collection.

At 12pm, the ‘Baking to Remember’ workshop celebrates the unifying power of food with a session dedicated to Manchester diverse cultural heritage, during which participants bake two types of bread, each representing communities who have experienced – or are experiencing – journeys as refugees.

At 1.15pm, Anna Lowenstein transports visitors on ‘a musical journey of the heritage, sounds and feelings of the Klezmer tradition’ with a solo concert of Klezmer music in the historic, uniquely stirring setting of the Manchester Jewish Museum synagogue.

Alongside the scheduled events, visitors will also have the chance to see the museum’s new, temporary textile exhibition, which traverses themes of commemoration, personal stories and activism. There will also be opportunities to reflect on the events and your own experiences through conversation and various other creative activities throughout the day.

For more information about Manchester Jewish Museum and to book your space, visit the website.