The exhibition is solely for the UK’s Universities, created by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and toured by the Anne Frank Educational Trust UK. The tour is in memory of Otto (Anne’s father) and Fritzi Frank (Otto’s second wife). Sponsors include the National Union of Students and the Union of Jewish Students. The exhibition’s guide is Emmanuel Bartes, who is completing the tour as part of his German national service.
Anne Frank’s life history is spotlighted in the exhibition, divided into five definite periods. Two parallel exhibitions will run alongside Anne’s at the University, ‘And in Britain today’ and ‘Students in the Third Reich’. ‘And in Britain Today’ focuses on young people’s experiences of racism and intolerance in the UK today, by displaying the story of teenager Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in 1993. ‘Students in the Third Reich’ has been written especially for this campus tour, and explores a range of issues in Nazi Germany, including student resistance to the Nazis and the role of student collaborators.
Simon Judd, Communications Officer with the University of Teesside’s Students’ Union, said: "Across the world there are terrible armed conflicts taking place with people in many nations facing prejudice, misery and oppression. In this country also there is real discrimination for so many and mindless acts of violence against minorities. For all these reasons the Anne Frank Exhibition is a story as relevant today as it has ever been and one that we would ignore at our peril."