New Approaches to Jewish Archives: Research, Practice, Engagement

This study day on responses to Jewish archives is designed to coincide with Holocaust Centre North’s (HCN) Memorial Gestures group art exhibition at Sunny Bank Mills, Leeds.

Memorial Gestures (5 to 28 June) showcases and celebrates the work of fourteen artist responding to artefacts in the Holocaust Centre North.

Our study day asks participants to find new routes into, and out of, Jewish archives, however defined.

How can we devise fresh approaches to Jewish archives, new historical or cultural readings, for example, or ones that include creative practice or personal response?

How might we use such techniques to allow new, diverse audiences to engage with and use Jewish archives?

The day will bring archivists, curators, cultural historians, artists and creative writers from HCN and beyond into conversation with each other and with different materials and archives.

Schedule

10.30-11.00 Arrive and mingle

11.00-11.15 Introduction: Setting of intentions (Eva Frojmovic)

11.15-12.45 Panel 1: Uncovering Archives (chair Carmen Levick)

Lisa Peschel, Professor of Theatre, University of York: ‘Analysing Testimony about Theatre in the Theresienstadt Ghetto'

Maia Eisner, Postgraduate Researcher, School of English, University of Leeds; poet and writer: Art and Survival: Poetic Responses to a Holocaust Archive.

Sierra Kaag, Postgraduate Researcher in Creative Writing, Durham University; Memorial Gestures 3 translator-in-residence: 'Der Künstler und der Führer/The Artist and the Leader: Transl(oc)ation of a Book'

Jack Palmer, Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds: The Bauman Archive and Legacy

Holly Addie, Postgraduate Taught Student, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds and Archive Intern, University of Leeds Cultural Collections: Yerusha portal to Leeds collections

12.45-13.45 Lunch Break*

13.45-15.15 Panel 2: Connecting Communities (chair Lisa Peschel)

Carmen Levick, Senior Lecturer in Theatre, University of Sheffield and Frankie Drummond Charig, archivist, Sheffield City Archives: The Sheffield City Jewish Archive in Theory and Practice

Hari Jonkers, Archivist, Holocaust Centre North

Sophia Lambert, PhD Candidate in History, University of Leeds and project intern. The “Learning from Yorkshire’s Holocaust Torah Scrolls” project

Anne Caldwell, Lecturer in History, University of Leeds, Teaching the Archives: The Diversity of Jewish Experiences

Morgan Neagle, Postgraduate Researcher, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds: Jewish-Catholic relations in the postwar United States: Sister Corita Kent’s network

15.15-15.30 Short break

15.30-16.00 Plenary discussion. Where Next? Future Approaches to Jewish Archives (chair Jay Prosser)

*There is a Gallery cafe across from 1912 Mill for teas and coffees. There is also the Mill Kitchen on site.

Venue

3rd Floor, 1912 Mill
Sunny Bank Mills
Farsley
West Yorkshire LS28 5U

More information

This event is organised by the Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Leeds.

It is free to attend and all are welcome.

For more information, please email Eva Frojmovic at E.Frojmovic@leeds.ac.uk.

Getting there

Public transport: From Leeds City Centre: 16 bus from City Square D. Stops in Farsley centre or train to New Pudsey Station and 15 minute walk. From Bradford: 72 Bus from Bradford Interchange or train to New Pudsey Station with 15 minute walk.

By car: There is lots of free parking all over the Sunny Bank Mills site. We would encourage visitors to park in the Weavers’ Yard carpark in the middle of the site. Visitors can park in any unmarked Spaces or those marked “Visitors.” Tenants have allocated parking so please kindly do not park in spaces with a company name on it. There is lots of peaceful, stress free parking behind in our two large woodland car parks, Follow the signs round the 1912 Mill (that’s the one with the tower.)

Access: Sunny Bank Mills describe the site accessibility here. Please let the organisers know of any additional requirements in advance.

More information

For more information, please contact Eva Frojmovic at E.Frojmovic@leeds.ac.uk.

Image

Czech Scroll MST#68, Special Collections, University of Leeds. Image courtesy of Leeds University Libraries.