"Hidden: Seven Children Saved" at Melbourne Holocaust Museum (MHM) is a poignant Holocaust exploration for 11-14-year-olds. This exhibition shares seven child survivors' journeys from Holocaust horrors to new beginnings in Australia. Utilizing first-person storytelling and hands-on exploration, young visitors are guided through complex themes of prejudice and loss, hinging on acts of kindness as the north star, imparting universal lessons in empathy, compassion and courage to bridge historical events with modern life.

Leveraging MHM's collection of first-person testimonies, personal artifacts and photographs, we orchestrated the visitor experience much like a wandering theatrical production. With thoughtful choreography to manage visitor flow, we crafted a captivating journey into the survivors' stories through cinematic soundscapes, projection mapping, colorful illustrations, physical dioramas, and playful interactive spaces.

Upon entering, students are greeted by large-scale portraits, establishing a one-to-one connection with the child survivor they will accompany throughout the exhibit. The surrounding walls, adorned with photos and complemented by authentic soundscapes, depict the rich tapestry of Jewish life before the war, laying the groundwork for understanding the depth of the tragedy that unfolded.

'The Village' represents Jewish communal life. A white diorama—complete with tiny streets and buildings evoking the architecture of Poland, Germany and France—serves as a canvas for storytelling, depicting life before, during, and after Nazi rule. A panoramic film alongside synchronized soundscapes breathes life into the village as projection-mapped silhouettes of residents gradually fade away, symbolizing worsening conditions under Nazi rule. Portraits on the back wall connect students with the home of their assigned survivor. The students peer through windows with headphones on to discover animated dioramas, narrated in the child's voice, that vividly recount the deepening crisis and provide a deeply personal window into their experiences.

In 'Hiding,' students navigate a compact maze of cubbies, closets, and corners, embodying the seclusion their survivor had to endure. Motion sensors and light-up cues activate as they open windows and doors to reveal hidden objects, secret sounds, and animations that narrate survivors' stories of loss, risk, and bravery, emphasizing the acts of kindness that were key to their survival. Mirrors throughout alleviate space constraints while allowing the students to see themselves in the stories, fostering opportunities for reflection.

As students trace the survivors' stories towards the end of the war and liberation, they are guided back to The Village. The projected animations depict scenes of reunions and grief, the families irrevocably altered, as the survivors make the heart-wrenching decision to leave Europe. The experience concludes with a look at their new lives in Australia and a thoughtful memorial wall of what was lost but will never be forgotten.

The impact of "Hidden" goes beyond historical facts, linking Holocaust lessons with universal values that promote human rights. Telling the survivors' stories in a youthful first-person voice allows children to relate to the survivors as people beyond historical figures. This experience allows young people to reflect on their role in fostering a more empathetic, compassionate world where they're empowered to stand against modern injustices.

MHM's brief was to craft an experience that respects history while inspiring hope within a compact 1000-sq-ft space that needed to accommodate tour groups of up to 60 students at a time. Joining the project mid-way through, we faced the challenge of integrating our design with a pre-existing structural layout and walls while aiming to foster a seamless visitor flow.

Design Approach

Considering the challenge of a compact 1000-square-foot area needing to accommodate groups of up to 60 students, we explored innovative spatial solutions. Our investigation led us to the work of architects like Daniel Libeskind, whose Jewish Museum Berlin employs a zigzagging linearity that creates a feeling of disorientation and reflection, aspects we found compelling for our narrative journey. We aimed to transform our limited space into an expansive narrative environment, where each section flowed into the next, guiding visitors through the survivors' stories with a sense of progression and discovery.

Furthermore, our research into Holocaust education methodologies informed the design of interactive and immersive elements within the exhibition. We created a multi-sensory experience that engages young visitors on multiple levels by integrating hands-on exploration with digital and physical storytelling methods. From the use of projection mapping to bring the "Village" to life to the interactive "Hiding" section that invites personal discovery, each design decision was informed by our research into effective pedagogical approaches for discussing historical trauma with children.

Understanding the delicate nature of the Holocaust's subject matter for a young audience, we delved into educational frameworks that emphasize safety and empathy. The "Safely In, Safely Out" pedagogy became a cornerstone of our approach, shaping not just the content but the very design of the exhibition. We researched child psychology to grasp how children comprehend and process difficult historical events, ensuring our design facilitated a learning experience that was impactful yet not overwhelming. This included creating environments like "The Village" and "Hiding" that, while immersive, also contained elements designed to reassure and provide emotional respite.

To engage a generation of digital natives, we applied the most compelling interactive technologies that could intuitively convey historical narratives. This included projection mapping to animate the "Village" with scenes of daily life and its subsequent disruption and touch-interactive displays within "Hiding" that reveal personal stories of survival. Our design choices were informed by studies on interactive learning, which show that engagement increases retention and empathy, particularly when students can control the pace and focus of their exploration.

Content Approach

We sought to forge a personal connection between these survivors and the young visitors by centering on the extraordinary lives of Paul, John, Floris, Joe, Halina, Sonia, and Henri. Each child's badge, given to students upon entry, serves as a key to unlocking these personal stories, tracing their journey from a peaceful pre-war existence through the terror of Nazi persecution during hiding to their liberation and eventual resettlement in Australia. Narrated by local youth, these stories aim to foster empathy and self-reflection, utilizing the 'Safely In, Safely Out' pedagogy to balance difficult storytelling with the well-being of the young visitors.

To do this, our team embarked on a comprehensive research phase that involved collaboration with Melbourne Holocaust Museum (MHM) curators, historians, and, most critically, the survivors themselves and their families. This collaborative effort was pivotal in ensuring the authenticity and sensitivity of the narratives presented.

Our process began with a deep dive into the museum's vast archive of first-person testimonies, personal artifacts, and photographs. This treasure trove of primary sources provided a solid foundation for understanding the individual and collective experiences of the survivors. Additionally, our content developers engaged in dialogues with survivors and their families to gain insights into the nuances of their stories and to understand the emotional and psychological landscapes they navigated during and after the war.

To bring these harrowing yet hopeful stories to life for a younger audience, we employed the "Safely In, Safely Out" educational pedagogy. This approach, which emphasizes the careful introduction and conclusion of difficult historical content, guided our storytelling strategy. It ensured that while the full weight of the Holocaust's atrocities was acknowledged, the focus remained on resilience, hope, and the human capacity for kindness in the face of unimaginable adversity.

In crafting the narratives, our team deliberately chose to present the survivors' stories through the lens of their childhood experiences, thereby creating a direct and relatable connection with our young audience. This was achieved by employing first-person narratives voiced by local youth, allowing visitors to see the historical events through the eyes of someone their own age. This choice not only fostered empathy but also emphasized the universality of childhood experiences, bridging a gap across time and circumstance.

Impact

The impact of "Hidden: Seven Children Saved" extends beyond the confines of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, resonating deeply with its young audience and the broader community. This exhibition, through its innovative design and storytelling approach, not only educates about the Holocaust but also instills in visitors a profound understanding of the human values of resilience, empathy, and kindness in the face of unimaginable adversity.

At its core, "Hidden" is an educational tool that transcends traditional learning methodologies by immersing students in the lived experiences of child survivors. Through firsthand narratives, interactive engagements, and a carefully crafted environment, students gain a comprehensive understanding of historical events and their implications. The exhibition successfully bridges historical knowledge with critical thinking and emotional intelligence, encouraging students to apply the lessons of the past to contemporary issues of prejudice, discrimination, and intolerance.

The carefully considered "Safely In, Safely Out" pedagogy ensures that young visitors are introduced to difficult content in a way that is sensitive to their emotional and psychological wellbeing. This approach has fostered a safe space for reflection and discussion, allowing students to process their thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment. Many students have reported feeling a deep connection to the survivors' stories, with several expressing a newfound appreciation for the values of courage and altruism.