In recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received a voluntary contribution of $500,000 from the United States to support the creation of the Auschwitz Art Exhibit, allowing for the exhibition of 4,000 sketches, drawings, and paintings created by prisoners and survivors of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz.  Most of these pieces have never been displayed.

This contribution reflects the United States’ longstanding commitment to Holocaust education, remembrance, dialogue, and research, as well as to combating antisemitism.  It is intended to support and encourage further efforts to establish a permanent exhibition that honors the resilience and humanity of those who endured unimaginable suffering.

This contribution builds on previous U.S. support to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, totaling $18 million including, most recently, a $1 million contribution for the development of live online guided tours “Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes.” 

Wojciech Soczewica, Director General of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation said: “The Foundation is grateful for the United States’ unwavering support in our mission to preserve the site’s most fragile and unique visual testimonies — the drawings of those who suffered here.  While this gift is a milestone for the Auschwitz Art Exhibit, the Foundation’s work requires the sustained partnership of the entire international community.  As we face a global increase in Holocaust distortion, we call on our partners around the world to join the United States in prioritizing these efforts.  Preserving this history is not a local task; it is a debt we all owe to the victims and survivors.”

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation thanks the United States for its commitment  to promoting accurate Holocaust education, preserving Jewish heritage in Poland, and supporting educators in teaching this history with sensitivity and purpose.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation believes that, with this contribution, it will be better positioned to honor the victims, preserve the legacies of survivors, and recommit to combating hatred in all its forms.  Together, we can ensure the lessons of the Holocaust guide us toward a safer and more secure future.