The “Keeping The Memory Alive – Journeys through the Holocaust” Poster Design Competition was a joint project supported by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and coordinated by Yad Vashem with the London Jewish Cultural Centre, United Kingdom, the European Shoah Legacy Institute, Czech Republic, the 2014 Canadian IHRA Chairmanship, and the Holocaust and United Nations Outreach Program.

Hundreds of entries were submitted after students of art and design (vast majority of whom bear no personal connection to the Holocaust) were invited to create original posters on the subject “Keeping the Memory Alive-Journeys through the Holocaust,” the theme of the United Nations Holocaust and Outreach Program in 2014. National juries from the UK, the Czech Republic, Canada, Israel, and from the United Nations Information Offices in Vienna, Moscow, and Jakarta selected 94 finalists from their respective regions to be considered for the exhibit. An international jury, comprised of experts in both design and in Holocaust Education from all partner countries, selected the best 16 designs for the exhibition.

The “Keeping the Memory Alive” posters were displayed to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2014, in high-profile governmental, civic, and educational settings including parliaments and UN offices worldwide. Additionally, a lesson plan was created by pedagogical experts and will be used for Holocaust education extensively by IHRA-affiliated organizations the world over. The 2014 competition, built on IHRA’s successful launch of the competition in 2012, guarantees outreach on the subject of Holocaust Remembrance in an accessible and meaningful form across the world.

Sixteen Exhibit Poster Designers were selected for the exhibition: Caitlin McGinn, Canada; Carling Hind, Canada; James Alonso, UK; Denisa Avuková, Czech Republic; Michael Wasylyshen, Canada;, Karolina Bořánková, Czech Republic; Grinka Ksenia, Russia; Marko Watt Kunst Stones, Slovenia; Caroline Leger, UK; Ellie Maskell, UK; Veronika Šišková, Czech Republic; Joakim Sundal, Canada; Ofer Shemesh, Israel; Lenka Štukhejlová, Czech Republic; Zhorzh Ekaterina, Russia; and Vicky Lench, UK.

The International Jury consisted of Alexander Engels, Russia, Director, Moscow Jewish Heritage History and Holocaust Museum; Helga Weiss Hošková, Czech Republic, Artist and Holocaust Survivor; Shulamit Imber, Pedagogical Director, International School for Holocaust Studies, Yad Vashem; Louise Jacobs, UK, Director, London Jewish Cultural Centre; Dr. Kathrin Meyer, Executive Secretary, IHRAs; Dr. Carson Phillips, Canada head of Education, Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre; Fanny Sigler, UK, Creative Consultant, retired Creative Director Central Office of Information; Kim Simon, Managing Director, USC Shoah Foundation; David Tartakover, Israel, Graphic and Israel Prize Laureate; Ondřej Zámiš, Czech Replublic, Graphic Artist.

Take a look at the Czech selection of the best poster designs from the 2012-14 poster design competition.