The theme of the Terezín Memorial 28th art competition – the Hana Greenfield Memorial – was inspired by the following prompt “The first thing I will do after the war will be…” Whatever this “first thing” was – going home, reuniting with one’s family or friends, studying, getting revenge, or just getting something they’d been long denied – such thoughts always helped prisoners survive the difficult times of their stay in the Terezín Ghetto, the Terezín Small Fortress and other places the Nazis used to imprison, torture and murder people. Regrettably, even today, many people in various parts of the world are interned and tortured, despite their declared human rights. And similar thoughts can also help them live to see another day.
When creating their artworks, students had to contemplate ideas that would benefit them if they were unjustly imprisoned. What would be the first thing they wanted to do after regaining their freedom?
A total of 501 competition entries from pupils and students in 72 Czech schools were sent in this year.
The competition results were announced and prizes were awarded to the authors of the winning entries at a ceremony in the Ghetto Museum cinema on June 6, 2024. In addition to the award-winning pupils, students and their relatives, it was also attended by other distinguished guests, including former Terezín Ghetto inmate Michaela Vidláková, Chairman of the Terezín Initiative Michal Stránský, Martina Jankovská from the Eternal Hope Foundation, Tereza Šimková, representing the jury, Pavel Hynčica from the Department of Museums and Galleries of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, Martina Halířová and Jakub Seiner from the National Pedagogical Museum and Library of J. A. Comenius, Veronika Trubačová, curator of the International Children’s Exhibition Lidice, and others.
During the program, participants had the opportunity to watch excerpts of video testimonies of Holocaust survivors – former prisoners relating to the theme of the competition.
The cultural component of the program was provided by the music ensemble The String Clartet.
The lists of winners and awarded entries can be found on the Terezín Memorial website in the Education section – link here.
Jan Kaňa
