The Anne Frank & You Exhibition - October 2009

In one of her first diary entries, Anne Frank wondered if, later on, she or anyone else would be interested in the musings of a thirteen year old school girl. Sixty years after her terrible death in Bergen-Belsen, those musings, some everyday, many profound, continue to move us by their essential humanity. Anne's diary has inspired millions the world over, even including Nelson Mandela during his own years of incarceration. Chichester Cathedral and The Anne Frank Trust UK proudly present to you this brand new version of Britain's most renowned travelling exhibition, bringing Anne Frank's voice firmly into the 21st century.

Background on the Exhibition

Anne Frank [and you] was developed by the Anne Frank Trust UK to give Anne Frank's story and message a contemporary profile for today. Starting from Anne Frank's writings and experiences, the exhibition is a journey of self exploration for the visitor. Themes that Anne wrote about in her diary, such as racial hatred, war and conflict and the value of democracy and freedom, are presented in an up-to-date and contemporary fashion, along with filmed interviews with British teenagers discussing their own views, concerns and hopes for the future.


Recommended for age 10 up, Anne Frank + You is a many layered audio-visual experience and journey of fact-finding and self exploration, which includes:

• "The Anne Frank photo album" featuring poignant photos  of Anne and her sister Margot
• Replica artefacts from Anne's life and the Holocaust
• The chilling genocide tunnel with powerful film footage
• An almost life size replica of Anne's room in the secret Annexe
• An interactive virtual tour of the Secret Annexe in Amsterdam, where Anne and her family hid for two years
• Anne's writing set against powerful graphic imagery of the social issues affecting us all in 21st century Britain, encouraging us to reflect on the similarities of young people's hopes, dreams and fears
• An opportunity to add your name to the Anne Frank Declaration and keep a personalised copy

The heart and soul of the Anne Frank + You exhibition is the spirit of Anne Frank: her words, wisdom and values. Anne Frank + You presents contemporary issues, including racism in football, the right to wear religious symbols, bullying and the plight of child soldiers, achieved through interviews with British teenagers and photographic documentary evidence. Linked to Anne's life and her writing, the exhibition presents visitors with five themes –
• Racial hatred
• Conflict and peace
• Inclusion and exclusion
• Democracy and dictatorship
• Responsibility and indifference

Schools and Colleges

Anne Frank [+ you] has been designed for schools and colleges to benefit from interactive presentations, space to experience and discuss how the issues affect us, as well as guides and lesson plans for teachers with booked parties. In the year that marks what would have been Anne Frank's 80th Birthday, the 'Anne Frank and You' exhibition promises to be a dynamic, creative and imaginative extravaganza of ideas! While the exhibition aims to host a party of events that can be enjoyed by all ages, one of its primary goals lies in supplementing teaching about contemporary social awareness while also catering for the historical and cultural value of the past.

The intention is to capture the spirit of Anne's own creative and fun loving nature in a variety of planned activities that compliment the modern, multimedia dynamics of the exhibition itself.  In addition to this, the exhibition also offers a really exciting opportunity to enhance the curriculum, especially in relation to English, History, Religious Studies and above all perhaps Citizenship.

Incorporating authentic film footage re-telling the story of the Frank family's desperate plight for survival, the exhibition also includes a life-sized replica of Anne's bedroom as well as an interactive virtual tour of the Secret Annexe in Amsterdam, where the Frank family hid for over two years. Accompanied by a re-creation of Anne's voice as she reads her diray, the audience is superbly primed for the full impact of the poignant displays of Holocaust imagery.
In a truly modern display that encourages questioning and lateral thinking we hope to allow students to learn collaboratively from one another, so they understand those events of the past that drove not only society but the entire world apart. With powerful graphic imagery of the social issues affecting us in today's Britain, the exhibition inspires us to consider the similarities between the hopes, dreams and fears of Anne Frank and today's young people, offering a message that all ages can learn from!

Already having achieved world-famous success, the exhibition has already left a huge impression upon the communities of Bristol and Blackburn and attracted over 25,000 people in Liverpool last year! Now, October 2009 marks a reawakening of the past in Chichester! Sporting vibrant, accurate and interesting contemporary displays, the Cathedral's North Transept will be a hive of activity this October with free admission for all.

Gifts

A special section of books, DVD's and other items relating to Anne Frank's life and story will be available for purchase in the Cathedral gift shop located the Cloisters.

Programme of Linked Events

For a full list of events being held alongside the cathedral exhibition downloading the programme below

Notes for Teachers

All teachers visiting the Anne Frank + You Exhibition are strongly advised to download the 'Teacher Notes for Exhibition' and 'Risk Assessment for AF+ You the links for which are below.

Creative Writing inspired by Anne Frank - for teachers

Inspired by the Anne Frank exhibition, Greg Mosse, leader of the Creative Writing programme at West Dean College north of Chichester, has written three lessons to help students understand story technique (www.westdean.org.uk).  They are designed to be used as overhead transparencies, revealed point by point to classes in years 5, 6, 7 and 8, depending on aptitude and experience.  

Copies of the lessons are available to all teachers attending the Anne Frank exhibition, and they can also be downloaded free of charge.

Writing a story is like life-drawing or making a bowl.  It requires learnt skills, perseverance and talent.  Good teachers can develop and nurture writing ability, in particular around plotting and suspense, location and character.

Often it isn’t hard to get started, but creative energy can soon wane.  Then it’s important to understand how a story is put together.  Why do films go ‘long shot’, ‘medium shot’ then ‘close up’?  Why do so many novels have prologues?

An experienced secondary school teacher, Greg Mosse also offers Inset in developing creative writing skills at KS2, 3 and 4, designed to enhance the delivery of Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills in English.

If you would like to know more about creative writing courses offered at West Dean College, including Inset for primary and secondary school teachers, please contact Alison Baxter on 01243 811 301 or email alison.baxter@westdean.org.uk.

For general bookings and information of any of the 'Anne Frank' related events, please contact Rhona Scott
tel:  01243 813584  
email:  annefrank@chichestercathedral.org.uk

Anne Frank [+ you] Exhibition
The Education Department
Chichester Cathedral
Chichester
PO19 1PX